Pafos vs Crvena Zvezda Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Playoffs
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There is a real chance of league/group phase football in the UEFA Champions League returning to Cyprus, as Pafos seek to see off Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Key Stats
- Pafos are unbeaten in five UEFA Champions League qualifying matches this season, they have won the last four (W4 D1).
- Pafos have opened the scoring within the first two minutes in their last two matches in UEFA Champions League qualifying; 2 min vs Dynamo Kyiv and 1 min vs Crvena Zvezda.
- Pafos have won eight of their last ten UEFA competition home matches (D1 L1).
- Pafos are competing in the UEFA Champions League for the first time this season, they reached the UEFA Conference League round of 16 on their UEFA competition debut last season.
- Pafos are aiming to be the third team from Cyprus to reach the UEFA Champions League proper after APOEL (four times) and Anorthosis Famagusta (once). The last participation was by APOEL in 2017/18.
- Pafos were crowned Cypriot champions for the first time in 2024/25.
- Crvena Zvezda won their previous two away matches in UEFA Champions League qualifying this season.
- Crvena Zvezda are aiming for a third successive participation in the UEFA Champions League proper. Last season they reached the league phase with a 3-2 aggregate victory against Bodø/Glimt in the play-off round (1-2 a, 2-0 h).
- Crvena Zvezda have won three of their last four ties in the UEFA Champions League play-off round.
- Crvena Zvezda have lost the second leg in only one of their last 12 UEFA competition two-legged ties (W6 D5).
- Crvena Zvezda are without a win in their last six UEFA matches against Cypriot teams (D5 L1).
- Bruno Duarte has scored in four of Crvena Zvezda’s five matches in UEFA Champions League qualifying this season.
Pafos vs Crvena Zvezda prediction
In the first-leg of this UEFA Champions League playoff round tie at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Serbia last week, Pafos managed to defeat Crvena Zvezda by two goals to one with Joao Correia opening the scoring after a minute, before making it 2-0 in the 52nd minute via a Pepe penalty. Bruno Duarte did bring a goal back for the Serbs.
Pafos have been following on the trend of an improvement in Cypriot football in UEFA competition, and this is a massive chance to continue that. Red Star have been perennial qualifiers over recent years, albeit they were woeful in the league phase of the competition last season.
Crvena Zvezda will believe they have a chance of being entertaining to watch in Cyprus, but Pafos would have to remain favourites to edge themselves through with home advantage.
Pafos vs Crvena Zvezda tip: Both teams to score
