Apollon Limassol vs AEK Larnaca - Friendlies Clubs

When Apollon Limassol and AEK Larnaca clash at the home ground on July 16, 2026, the stakes extend well beyond a single result — this is a Friendlies Clubs fixture that carries real weight for both clubs. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

There is plenty riding on this Friendlies Clubs encounter for Apollon Limassol and AEK Larnaca alike, and neither will want to leave the home ground empty-handed. The hosts will hope that the the home ground crowd can inspire a performance, whatever the numbers suggest. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. But Fuseini's equaliser leaves Burnley winless and bottom of the Championship, having failed to gain three points from a match Hayen had described beforehand as "must-win".

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Apollon Limassol and AEK Larnaca have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. A month before his death, he was also arrested in Arkansas on charges including possession of a controlled substance.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. The midfielder is yet to make his debut for the club since completing a move from Brighton.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. With positions in the Friendlies Clubs table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.