Everton have endured a bit of a nightmare campaign so far, but things have been looking up in the last few matches for the Toffees. On Thursday night, that mini-revival will be put to the test in the Europa League as Cypriot side Apollon visit Goodison Park.
Everton heads into this game on the back of successive victories against Sunderland and Bournemouth in the League Cup and Premier League respectively. The 3-0 win against Sunderland ended a four-game losing run for the Toffees.
Ronald Koeman’s side had struggled for goals at the start of the campaign, but have now scored five goals in two games. A key to the Merseysiders returning to the scoresheet has been the form of almost forgotten man Oumar Niasse.
The Senegalese striker has scored three times in two substitute appearances for the Toffees. Unfortunately, for Koeman the former-Lokomotiv striker was not omitted from Everton’s 25-man European squad, so cannot feature in this clash.
The home side made a poor start to their European campaign by losing 3-0 at Atalanta on matchday one. However, prior to the defeat in Italy, the Toffees had lost just once in their previous eight games in this competition.
The Merseysiders form on home soil in this competition is also formidable, as they have won seven of their last eight European games on home soil.
The visitors have been the draw kings of late in all competitions, drawing four out of their last five games in all competitions, including their first Europa League game at home to Lyon.
Apollon are unbeaten in their last four games in this competition, recording two wins and two draws. However, they have won just one of their last six away games in the Europa League and Goodison Park is a tough ground for most teams to visit.
Forebet predicts that Everton’s mini-revival will continue and the Toffees will pick-up their first three points of their European campaign in this clash.