Anorthosis out to show title credentials against Apollon

TONIGHT’S clash between leading teams Anorthosis Famagusta and last year’s champions Apollon Limassol is expected to be this weekend’s most eventful game, with both sides in need of a win to remain in the race for the first division championship.

Licking their wounds from last week’s 2-0 loss to Omonia, the Famagusta team’s players have been training tirelessly throughout the week and with the possible exception of defender Savvas Poursaitides, who suffered from gastroenteritis in the beginning of the week. It is expected to be a full-strength side for Anorhtosis tonight, apart from injured striker Nikos Froussos.
Midfielders Nikos Nikolaou and Costas Constantinou returned to training as usual after team captain Nikolaou suffered a head injury on Tuesday while his team-mate had the flu.

Since Wednesday, team coach and midfielder Temuri Ketsbaia as well as striker William Boaventoura have also been training as normal, and are expected to lead a powerful presence at the team’s home ground, the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium.

Meanwhile, it is still not clear whether Apollon’s G?bor Korolovszky will be participating in the match. The Hungarian midfielder had recently suffered an injury, though he participated in the past week of training.

However, defender Marko Baroun will definitely not be playing tonight after suffering a dislocated shoulder, which means it will take at least two weeks before he can resume training. Apollon coach Bernd Stange is expected to replace the Slovak defender with Jassim Swadi Arig.

In other games this weekend, Omonia Nicosia will meet Ethnikos Achnas, who exited the UEFA Cup competition on Thursday after losing 3-1 to French side Lens.

Current first division leaders APOEL Nicosia will welcome AEK Larnaca to GSP Stadium, AEL Limassol will play against Paphos team AEP and
Ayia Napa will be playing against Olympiakos Nicosia. Digenis will face Famagusta team Nea Salamina while finally, Ares Limassol will meet Enosis Neon Paralimniou.

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