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That’s the way to do it: APOEL sit proudly on top of Group G at the halfway stage after confounding their critics with a string of superb Champions League displays

APOEL fans could hardly hide their disappointment after the draw for the group stages of the Champions League was made in August.

Their side, after qualifying for the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition for only the second time in their history, had failed to draw any of the giants of the European game. What made things even worse was how none of the sides they had drawn, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg or Porto, constituted a particularly appealing holiday destination for a short midweek break in the autumn months, such as Barcelona, Madrid, London or Milan would have been. The overall feeling from the fans was that since the Nicosia side was more than likely to end up last whatever the case, let’s at least enjoy the trip. 

Now, at the half-way stage of the group, APOEL are top on five points, one ahead of 2004 winners Porto and Zenit St Petersburg. And how the attitude has changed. 

“We are happy to be top with five points. It's a big thing for APOEL and Cyprus. We are not top of the group through luck but we still know that everything can change with every matchday,” coach Ivan Jovanovic said after the 1-1 draw away to Porto.

The competition’s surprise package secured another remarkable result on Wednesday night, frustrating current Europa League champions Porto, who lacked a creative spark in the final third. 

In a sign of APOEL’s ambition, Serb Jovanovic lamented the injury time miss by substitute Aldo Adorno who could have won the game.

“Even though Porto kept possession as we expected, we were dangerous on the counter-attack. We also had good chances to score. We were a little disappointed not to steal it at the end but I am still delighted with my players because they worked hard,” he added. 

What has taken European observers aback with this APOEL side has not only been the impressive set of results they have achieved so far, beating Zenit at home and securing away draws against Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto, but also the manner in which these results have been achieved. Against Zenit in the opening fixture, the Cypriot side scored twice in six second half minutes to come back from a goal behind, while on Wednesday Porto were only ahead for six minutes before Brazilian striker Ailton drew the visitors level with a perfectly placed drive from outside the box. 

APOEL average 43 per cent of possession in the Champions League so far this season and at the Dragao on Wednesday this was even less, with periods of play where the visitors did not see much of the ball. While other sides may have succumbed to the pressure, APOEL showed they were not easily flustered at the back and they always looked dangerous going forward. 

“APOEL are a difficult side to play against with dangerous players. They defend very well and don't give you much space. This is a very complicated, even group with very similar teams. This APOEL side showed why they beat Zenit and drew at Shakhtar and although they are hard to play against we are convinced we can win in Cyprus,” Porto coach Vitor Pereira said. 

The reverse fixture against Porto in two weeks time is very important for both sides, and should APOEL succeed in maintaining their unbeaten record in the competition so far, becoming the first ever Cypriot club to qualify for the last 16 would be a more than realistic prospect. However, star man Ailton maintained that the Cypriot champions are not getting carried away just yet. 

“We're not thinking about the group table. We'll just give 100 per cent in every game and see what happens. Rather than looking at the next phase, we're going to try and get a good result in the next game too,” he said. 

Should they be able to do that on November 1 in Nicosia, then their fans will no longer be complaining at how they did not get to see Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in action, but will be concentrating on qualification to the knockout phase of the competition.