APOEL may have avoided European football’s heavyweights by topping their group, but clubs will now be clamouring to draw the Nicosia side in the last 16, coach Ivan Jovanovic has said.
Having already qualified for the last 16, the Cypriot champions suffered their first defeat of the group stage with a 2-0 loss at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday to finish on 9 points, level with Zenit St Petersburg after their 0-0 against Porto. APOEL still retained top spot thanks to a better head to head record against the Russians.
By finishing top, APOEL go into the group winners pot next Friday and will be drawn with a runner-up from one of the other groups, evading a potential draw against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
While this in theory would mean APOEL are in line for an easier draw against second placed teams, Jovanovic was of the opinion that his team would be the one that most sides would like to get.
“I have no preference. However, I know that all the other teams will probably prefer us as an opponent,” he told reporters after the game. “The games in the next round will be different to the ones in the group. What matters is that we have achieved, and what we have to do in February is show that we deserve to be there.”
Despite having nothing to play for but pride, Shakhtar put on an impressive display in Nicosia on Tuesday, with APOEL at times struggling to handle them and in particular Brazilian playmaker Willian.
The home side had won their two previous home games in the competition 2-1, but managing only four attempts in the entire game, APOEL rarely troubled the Ukrainians.
Both Shakhtar’s goals came in the second half through Luiz Adriano and substitute Yevhen Seleznyov, while APOEL goalkeeper Urko Pardo saved a Luiz Adriano penalty in the first half.
The Spanish shot stopper was signed initially as back up for Dionisis Chiotis who was one of APOEL’s stand out performers in their first Champions League appearance in 2009 but seems to have replaced the Greek as Jovanovic’s first choice keeper.
His performances and the sense of calm he has conveyed between the posts for APOEL have been integral to their progression and Pardo believes that despite a lack of focus against Shakhtar, his team could go on to cause an upset in the knockout phase.
“We knew Shakhtar were a top team and they played a fantastic game while we lost our concentration. We didn’t lack motivation. I hear a lot of people saying that we will be an easy opponent. I can assure you that this is not true because we are ambitious and want to go far,” Pardo said.
The match was briefly interrupted just before the final whistle when two smoke bombs were tossed onto the pitch, to the dismay of club chairman Phivos Erotokritou who called the fans responsible “idiots”, questioning their loyalty to the club.
APOEL may have impressed in the competition so far because of their ability to keep themselves in the game despite suffering periods of sustained pressure, however on Tuesday they lacked a cutting edge that they had displayed in previous games, largely due to the absence of striker Ailton Almeida.
It may not have been the performance to accompany the planned party, but the loss was a measure of their achievement in the Champions League according to Jovanovic.
“Of course we are never happy in defeat but I if look at how Shakhtar, with such strength and quality did not manage to qualify, then you can imagine how many congratulations my players are due,” he said.
