Nioplias starts with Portugal test

The visit of joint-Group H leaders Portugal spells a baptism of fire for Cyprus coach Nikos Nioplias in what is his first competitive fixture since replacing Angelos Anastasiadis at the helm.

• The sides played out a thrilling 4-4 draw in their opening UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier on 3 September last year. A late Andreas Avraam goal earned a point for Cyprus, who led twice early on but went in at half-time level at 2-2. Portugal, then under caretaker coach Agostinho Oliveira, looked to have quelled their resistance when Danny struck early in the second period. Instead Yiannis Okkas equalised and even when Portugal's Manuel Fernandes made it 4-3 on the hour, Avraam earned a point for the visitors.

• Cyprus's record in nine games against Portugal reads W0 D1 L8 (W0 D0 L4 at home).

• The first of their meetings yielded a 4-0 victory for Portugal in 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying on 29 March 1972. The sides were then paired again in 1976 UEFA European Championship qualifying and the preliminaries for the 1978 World Cup.

• This latest encounter comes three days shy of ten years since Cyprus last hosted Portugal in Larnaca on 5 September 2001 – the visitors prevailing 3-1 in a 2002 World Cup qualifier.

• Former Greece midfielder Nioplias came up against Portugal as a player in a 25 January 1989 friendly, which his side lost 2-1 at home. His Greece team won 2-1 at home and lost 2-1 away against Portugal in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying in 2009, while he oversaw a 1-0 win for Greece's U17s against Portugal in 2007.