During the pre-season training stage in Austria, APOEL participated in Salzburg Airport Cup and played in total four friendly matches.

In the first championship play-off match, APOEL won Omonia by 2–1, with a last-minute winner from Gustavo Manduca and moved up to the second place, only two points behind leaders AEL Limassol who on the same day drew 1–1 at Anorthosis.

In the second play-off match, APOEL suffered a 2–1 home loss from Anorthosis and leaders AEL Limassol (who at the same day won Omonia by 2–0) gained a five-points advantage.

In the first round of the 2011–12 Cypriot Cup, APOEL eliminated Akritas Chlorakas by winning 9–1 in a knock-out match which was held at GSP Stadium.

The winner came two minutes later when Brazilian striker Aílton evaded the Zenit defense and shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Porto and APOEL drew 1–1 at Dragão to extend its unbeaten start and keep them on the top of Group G. Brazilian forward Hulk put F.C.

However, on the last minute of added time APOEL could have won the match, but substitute Aldo Adorno was denied the winner by a block from Helton.

Porto in GSP Stadium and Gustavo Manduca's last-minute winner meant APOEL remained unbeaten at the top of Group G, securing at least a place in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League knockout phase.

It looked like the Portuguese side had salvaged a draw, but in the 90th minute Constantinos Charalambides fired in an accurate cross and found Gustavo Manduca in the box, whose left-footed strike from close range sealed the win for APOEL.

On 23 November 2011, APOEL made history and became the first Cypriot team to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League by holding Zenit St. Petersburg to a 0–0 draw in Petrovsky Stadium.

[2] APOEL eventually reached the last 16 as a group winner, despite losing its unbeaten record after a 0–2 home defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk on the final match day.

Lyon overcame APOEL's tight defense with a second-half goal by Alexandre Lacazette and secured a slender advantage by winning 1–0.

In the second leg which was held at GSP Stadium on 7 March 2012, Gustavo Manduca's ninth-minute opener levelled the tie 1–1 on aggregate.

In the first leg which was held at GSP Stadium on 27 March 2012, APOEL stood well for 74 minutes, but Real Madrid ran out 3–0 winners thanks to late goals from Karim Benzema (74', 90') and Kaká (82').

In the return leg which was held at Santiago Bernabéu on 4 April 2012, Real Madrid took a 2–0 lead in the first half by Cristiano Ronaldo's (26') and Kaká's (37') goals.

Last Update: 19 January 2012[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.