A week ago, Pafos achieved an extraordinary feat, winning 2-1 in Belgrade and ending Red Star’s long unbeaten streak that had lasted 15 games. It was a real show of strength by the Cypriot team, the big surprise of this Champions League preliminary round and now just one step away from a historic qualification for the group stage of Europe’s top competition.
Juan Carlos Carcedo’s men took an early lead thanks to a goal from Correia in the first minute of play, then doubled their advantage at the start of the second half with a penalty from Pepe.
In the second half, Pafos managed to withstand the Serbs’ attacks, who were only able to reduce the deficit through Duarte.
Milojevic welcomes back Krunic (and possibly Arnautovic)
It was an important goal, however, as it keeps the hopes of Vladan Milojevic’s team alive, now forced to win in Cyprus by at least two goals. For the Cypriots, it is undoubtedly the most important match in their history. The only time Pafos has participated in a European competition was last year in the Conference League, where they defied the odds to reach the round of 16.
In short, this is a project that started a long time ago and, in just a few years, has allowed the blue and whites to achieve results that were perhaps unthinkable for a club founded only in 2014, such as winning the Cypriot championship last May. Over the weekend, both teams rested in their respective leagues to focus exclusively on the return leg of the playoff. Milojevic hopes to be able to count on former Inter player Arnautovic, who arrived in the summer transfer window, but he will have two important players back, Krunic and Rodrigao, who were suspended in the first leg.
Odds comparison
The “Goal” bet is quoted at 1.55 on Lottomatica and 1.57 on Snai. The “Over 2.5” bet is quoted at 1.65 on Lottomatica and Snai.
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The prediction
Pafos, already conquerors of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kiev, showed in the first leg that they can hold their own against a more experienced club that is more accustomed to certain stages, such as Red Star. The 2-1 result can be overturned, but it will take a perfect performance from the Serbs in a stadium where Pafos has never lost at European level, including last year’s Conference League. As in the first leg, there will be at least three goals in total.
Probable lineups for Pafos-Red Star
PAFOS (4-2-3-1): Michael; Bruno, Luckassen, Goldar, Pileas; Pepe, Sunjic; Correia, Dragomir, Tankovic; Anderson.
RED STAR (4-2-3-1): Matheus; Young-woo Seol, Veljkovic, Rodrigao, Tiknizyan; Elsnik, Krunic; Milson, Duarte, Ivanic; Ndiaye.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2