The 2009–10 season was APOEL's 70th season in the Cypriot First Division and 82nd year in existence as a football club. Season review Pre-season and friendlies The first training session for the season took place on June 10, 2009, at the GSP Stadium and on June 21, the team left to Obertraun in Austria, to perform the main stage of their pre-season training. On July 3, the team moved to Leogang to continue their pre-season preparation. APOEL returned to Cyprus on July 9. During the pre-season training stage in Austria, APOEL played three friendly matches. Domestic Competitions LTV Super Cup APOEL started the season by winning the 2009 Cypriot Super Cup, beating APOP Kinyras 2–1 on 9 August 2009. Sebastián González opened the score for APOP Kinyras in the 4th minute and APOEL equalised with Boban Grnčarov in the 49th minute. The winner came from Nektarios Alexandrou in the 85th minute. Marfin Laiki League APOEL finished 2nd in the 2009–10 Cypriot First Division with 65 points, behind champions Omonia which had 74 points. So, APOEL won a place for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. Cypriot Cup APOEL reached the final of the 2009–10 Cypriot Cup by eliminating Ethnikos Achna (4–2 agg.), Ermis Aradippou (6–0 agg.) and Aris Limassol (2–0 agg.). In the Cup final which held at GSZ Stadium on 15 May 2010, APOEL lost from Apollon Limassol by 2–1. Apollon took the lead in the 1st minute with a goal from Moustapha Bangura and APOEL equalised in the 23rd minute with a header from Marcin Żewłakow. Apollon scored the winner with Giorgos Merkis in the 72nd minute with a header from close range. UEFA Champions League The team was the current holders of the Cypriot championship and as such entered the UEFA Champions League qualifying stages. A successful campaign saw them through to the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League group stages by eliminating EB/Streymur (5–0 agg.), FK Partizan (2–1 agg.) and F.C. Copenhagen (3–2 agg.). APOEL were drawn in Group D against Chelsea F.C., F.C. Porto and Atlético Madrid. On matchday 1, APOEL drew 0–0 against Atlético Madrid at the first game at Vicente Calderón Stadium and won its first ever point in group stages. On matchday 2, APOEL faced up English giants Chelsea F.C. and the Cypriot team was beaten 0–1 by Nicolas Anelka's goal in the 18th minute. On matchday 3, APOEL played against F.C.