Apollon v Villarreal background
Friday, November 28, 2014
Article summary
Apollon Limassol FC will look to end their UEFA Europa League campaign victorious as Villarreal CF come to Cyprus still unsure whether they will progress from Group A.
Article top media content
Article body
Apollon Limassol FC are already certain to bow out at the end of the UEFA Europa League group stage but could potentially take Villarreal CF down with them in Group A.
• Apollon can finish no higher than fourth in the section.
• Only a win will guarantee Villarreal a place in the round of 32; anything less and they could be leapfrogged by FC Zürich.
Form guide
• With Rubén Uría deputising for coach Marcelino, Villarreal won 4-0 when these sides met in Spain on matchday two.
• Having made their debut last season, Apollon are the first Cypriot side to have reached the UEFA Europa League group stage for a second time.
• Apollon embarked on a four-game Group A losing streak after beating Zürich 3-2 on matchday one; Villarreal are yet to win away in the section (D1 L1).
Trivia and links
• Villarreal midfielder Bruno Soriano can make his 50th UEFA club competition appearance on matchday six.
• Apollon's Marcos Gullón came through the youth ranks at Villarreal and played for the club at senior level from 2010 to 2012.
• Apollon boast Spanish talent in former FC Barcelona trainee Hugo López, who has never played in the Liga.
• Apollon's Gaston Sangoy scored twice against Villarreal during his time at Real Sporting de Gijón, while on-loan forward Fabrice also has Liga experience: while at Málaga CF he became the Liga's youngest ever goalscorer at 16 years and 98 days, finding the target against RC Celta de Vigo on 18 August 2012.
• Apollon's Fotis Papoulis scored the first goal of the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League group stage, nine minutes into their 3-2 matchday one win against Zürich.
The coaches
• On 8 October, Apollon parted company with coach Christakis Christoforou, who had been at the helm since March 2013.
• Romanian coach Ioan Andone took charge of Apollon on 16 October, having previously worked in Cyprus when he held the reins at AC Omonia from 2005 to 2007. Capped 55 times as a defender, Andone has served as a coach in Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in recent years.
• An attacking midfielder in the Spanish top flight with Real Sporting de Gijón, Villarreal coach Marcelino started coaching early after retiring due to injury aged 28. In charge at El Madrigal since 2013, he has also overseen RC Recreativo de Huelva, Real Racing Club, Real Zaragoza and Sevilla FC.
