Cyprus continues to keep the dream of 15th place alive

AEK celebrated a great and historic away win (1–0) against Crystal Palace on Matchday 2 of the Conference League, taking a decisive step towards qualification with two wins out of two in the competition.

With six points, they sit at the top of the standings, having the same goal difference as Fiorentina (5–0).

Omonia missed a great chance for victory, drawing 1–1 away against Drita, earning their first point in the overall group, but remaining outside the top 24 — specifically in 25th place.

* Rijeka and Sparta Prague have one game less, as their match was suspended in the 45th minute.

Next matchday (6/11)

Noah – Sigma Olomouc

AEK – Aberdeen

Samsunspor – Hamrun

AEK Athens – Shamrock

Kuopio – Slovan Bratislava

Celje – Legia

Mainz – Fiorentina

Sparta Prague – Rakow

Shakhtar – Breidablik

Shelbourne – Drita

Häcken – Strasbourg

Lausanne – Omonia

Shkëndija – Jagiellonia

Lincoln – Rijeka

Rayo – Lech Poznań

Crystal Palace – AZ Alkmaar

Dynamo Kyiv – Zrinjski

Rapid Vienna – Craiova

Cyprus continues to keep alive the dream of 15th place in the UEFA ranking, which grants a fifth European ticket and a second team in the Champions League qualifiers.

AEK Larnaca’s huge victory in London over Crystal Palace (1–0) — the first ever by a Cypriot team against an English side — earned the country 500 valuable points. Omonia drew 1–1 in Pristina with Drita and added 250 points, a result that leaves mixed feelings about whether more could have been achieved.

Cyprus has now risen to 30.787 points and maintained 17th place, increasing the gap from Scotland by 100 points. The most important development is that the distance from 15th place has been reduced by 500 points: Switzerland climbed to 32.500 points after collecting 800 yesterday, while Austria remained at 32.250. The goal of 15th place, which seemed almost impossible in the summer, is now realistic — but it requires continued overachievement from the three Cypriot clubs still in European competition.

Every result counts: 500 points for each win and 250 for each draw. So far, Cypriot teams have gathered 7.250 points this European season — the second-best haul of the past five years.

The impressive victories of PAOK and AEK also earned Greece valuable points, keeping Greece in contention for 10th place, with a total tally of around 39.112 points.