Pafos take on the visitors Crvena in the second leg of UEFA Champions League Qualification final round. First leg result: 2-1. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 26th at Alphamega Stadium (Limassol).
Pafos have already written these weeks into their short history. The Yellow-Blues are still a very young project, only beginning to aim for something significant under the current ownership and, crucially, after appointing Carcedo as head coach. He immediately delivered by winning the club’s first-ever trophy, the Cypriot Cup. In 2024/25, while also making their debut in the Europa Conference League and advancing to the knockout stages, Pafos secured their maiden league title. That triumph led them into this season’s Champions League qualification, where they have already shown their quality. First, they eliminated Maccabi Tel Aviv, surviving a bizarre match in which the opponent was reduced to ten men and forced to play without a recognized goalkeeper, before finishing the tie with a 1-0 win. After that, they pulled off two clean-sheet victories over Dynamo Kyiv, winning 1-0 and 2-0. All this came even without their high-profile but aging signing David Luiz, who has yet to make his mark. Pafos have also impressed defensively, recording multiple shutouts that underline their tactical maturity. The team now carries growing belief that they can challenge even more established names in European competition.
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Crvena Zvezda have always been a powerhouse, but in today’s Serbian football they have no real domestic competition. Last season they comfortably clinched yet another league title and have started the new campaign with commanding wins. The main goal, however, is once again to reach the Champions League main draw, and they are now just one step away. Their earlier qualifying rounds brought few problems: they comfortably beat Lincoln Red Imps twice and handled Lech Poznań with a 3-1 away win before a routine home draw. Against Pafos in Belgrade, though, they suffered a shock, conceding in the first attack and again early in the second half, leaving them only able to reduce the deficit to 1-2. Still, Crvena Zvezda boast far greater European pedigree, with experience and squad depth firmly on their side. Their attack has been consistent this summer, and they will look to impose themselves more aggressively in Cyprus.
Pafos are only in their second-ever European campaign, having existed for barely a decade. Unsurprisingly, last week was the first time they had ever faced the Serbian giants. The Serbians remain the favorites, but Pafos continue to be underestimated. At home, the Cypriots look capable of avoiding defeat in this encounter.
Prediction for the match: Pafos not to lose (1X).
