- Apollon have won 4 of their last 5, they currently ride a four-game winning streak.
- SK Brann Bergen have won 3 of their last 5, drawing one and losing one.
Apollon can give Bergen a scare
A tight fixture seems likely when SK Brann Bergen, slight home favourites at 9/10, entertain Apollon Limmassol FC at 3/1, as the draw is listed at 49/20.
Brann are the stronger of the two teams and have had the better of their recent games, with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat across their last 5. They've been scoring plenty of goals too, hitting 10 in their most recent 5, with Niklas Castro contributing 4 of those.
However, Apollon are the team in the sharper form, winning 7 and losing 3 of their last 10 across all competitions, with no draws in that spell. They are also unbeaten in 3 away, scoring 2.00 goals per game on average and conceding 1.20.
Game of transition attacks
This game has the feel of a pressing duel, and the winner could be the side that makes the cleaner play in transition. Eirik Horneland has Brann Bergen playing a 4-3-3 system which overloads narrow areas of the pitch and creates lots of problems for opponents with their manic tempo, high pressing and aggressive counter-pressing to win the ball back high up the pitch.
Hernán Losada has built his Apollon side around flexible systems which allow them to build up patiently and press in a structured way. They don't have the same pressing intensity as Brann, but they do play with a higher line and have more patience in their build-up play which could help them get out of pressure areas a little more cleanly than Brann have in recent games.
The value is with the visitors
Brann have won 2 and lost 3 of their last 5 home games in all competitions and have conceded an average of 1.80 goals per-game across that spell. Apollon come into this game with 3 straight away wins and look good value at 3/1 in the market.
Under 2.5 goals at 18/25 and Both Teams to Score - No at 83/100 are the two selections in this fixture. Brann are favourites to edge it at home but Apollon's form suggests this is an even matchup and they should be able to get a draw at the very least.
Both teams will leave space behind a high line and the result could be determined by which side capitalises in transition. Brann are the better team but Apollon are on a 4-game winning run and look the more likely side to cause an upset.
