Two years after its brave quarter-final birth on European football’s main stage, APOEL Nicosia once again finds itself in Champions League contention after its second-leg 4-0 rout of Danish outfit AaB.
The Cypriot side came into the match having scored an illustrious away goal with the match in the balance at 1-1, after last week’s first-leg in Aalborg.
Courtesy of first half goals from Vinicius and Tomás De Vincenti, followed by second half goals from Stathis Aloneftis and Cillian Sheridan, the APOEL eased its way through at GSP Stadium in Nicosia.
Thrylos has now been pooled in Pot 4, along with Greek international Kostas Manolas’s new side AS Roma and six other European teams, to decide the make up of the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Manolas, who only recently signed for the 2013-14 Italian Serie A runners-up, hasn’t featured for his new club but said that he is excited by the prospect of playing in Italy, following six years in Greece and the last two seasons with Olympiakos.
The Greece defender joined Roma for on €13 million transfer from Piraeus, replacing Mehdi Benatia who was sold by i Giallorossi to Bayern Munich for a reported €26 million fee.
Despite reported interest from a number of European giants, including English Premier League club Arsenal, Manolas was all praise for his new club, after being unveiled to the media.
“I had numerous offers from big clubs, including Juventus,” Manolas said.
“It was my choice to come here. I wanted to come to Roma.
“Many people have spoken highly of this club to me and their advice, as well as my own thinking, carried me here.”
In other football news, Georgios Samaras’ new English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion saved grace earlier this week after toppling League Two outfit Oxford United, in the Capital One Cup.
The Baggies were hit the front early, thanks to an own goal in the 29th minute, before Oxford’s late equaliser forced the game into time on and penalties.
Socceroos international Jason Davidson kicked the decisive goal to help his team win the game 7-6 from spot kicks.
Source: BBC Sport, UEFA, goal.com