Battle in Cyprus set to go down to the wire

By Iacovos Constantinou

The race for the championship and the other sought-after European slots are set to go down to the wire as just seven points separate the top five teams with five more games to play.

In Larnaca, Anorthosis take on leaders APOEL, a team they have not defeated in almost two years and have not scored against in five attempts this season.

However, Anorthosis come into the game on the back of two impressive wins against Apollon (3-1) and AEK (3-0) and should fancy their chances against the league leaders.

Their Dutch coach Andre Paous has tricky winger Calvo available again after suspension while both Laifis and Ede have overcome niggling injuries and should both start.

APOEL regained top spot last weekend and will want to hang onto it until the end of the season.
Morais, De Vinceti and Mario Sergio are all back following suspension but the Nicosia giants were dealt a huge blow when their towering keeper Pardo was ruled out for up to six months through injury. Cilian Sheridan is also doubtful for the game.

Third-placed Omonia face AEK in a crucial game for both sides. The Nicosia side will try and avoid defeat at all costs as a draw would still leave them in pole position for third place at least.
Garcia is out through injury but coach Kaiafas has almost a full squad to choose from.

AEK will have to put their mid-week cup elimination behind them and concentrate on the league if they are to get something out of a season that promised so much.
They are sweating on the fitness of their star player Vander who is still plagued by a wrist injury he sustained in training a few weeks ago.

In the last top group game, second-placed Apollon should be able to put a stop to their poor results and record their first win in three games against a weakened Ermis Aradippou side.

In the lower group, bottom of the table Othellos need a win against Ethnikos Achnas to keep up the pressure on Doxa who have a three-point cushion over them.
AEL, Doxa’s opponents on Sunday, with the Cup final in mind will most likely rest a number of players giving a chance to youngsters.

In the last game, Nea Salamina are at home to Ayia Napa with both teams likely to settle for a draw especially now that just one team will be relegated.

All Group A games will be played on Saturday at 17.00 with the Group B games being played exactly 24 hours later.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.