Pafos take on the visitors Dynamo Kyiv in the second leg of UEFA Champions League semifinal round. First leg result: 1-0. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 12th at Alphamega Stadium (Kolossi).
Pafos are making their debut in this format. The Blue-and-Whites are a young project that has just reached its peak. And, of course, this is linked to their decision to trust Juan Carlos Carcedo, formerly a long-time assistant to Unai Emery. In 2024, he delivered the club’s first ever trophy — the Cypriot Cup. This achievement allowed them to debut in European competition last season, where they reached the Round of 16 in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Despite the unusual extra workload, they still managed to dominate domestically, winning the league title. Now, the players face yet another challenge. In the Champions League, they eliminated Maccabi Tel Aviv, drawing 1-1 at home and then winning the “away” leg. Notably, before Jaja’s only goal, their opponents had lost their first-choice goalkeeper to injury and the substitute to a red card. They have shown a solid defensive structure, conceding very few goals in recent weeks. With their confidence high after an unbeaten domestic run, they approach this clash with strong momentum.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Dynamo Kyiv had recently slipped to third place under Lucescu. But Shovkovskyi managed to turn things around, and last season they went through the entire Ukrainian Premier League campaign unbeaten — which finally allowed them to become champions again. However, there was a bitter twist at the end: Shakhtar Donetsk, even in a crisis, managed to win the cup final on penalties. The new season, starting in the Champions League, began brightly with two identical 3-0 victories. However, their opponents in those games were the modest Ħamrun Spartans. After the Maltese side, they produced a weak performance in their nominal home game at the Lublin Arena — not only failing to score but conceding late and losing. Their attack has looked inconsistent against stronger defences, raising concerns ahead of this tie. Defensive lapses in key moments could prove costly if they are not addressed quickly.
This is only the second time in their short history that the Cypriots have appeared in European competition — unsurprisingly, they have never faced a Ukrainian side before. Dynamo are considered the favourites, but they have been disappointing. We do not expect much spectacle here: Pafos will likely play according to the scoreline, which should lead to “total under 2.5 goals.”
Prediction for the match: Under 2.5 scored goals.
