Europe - Champions League
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by Erik Gibbs in Champions League Picks
Pafos FC vs Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, and this UEFA Champions League qualifying tie heads to Cyprus with Pafos FC carrying the momentum of a first-leg upset. Pafos, a club making its first-ever appearance at this stage, stunned Red Star Belgrade 2-1 in the opening leg played in Serbia. That victory marks one of the biggest results in Pafos’s young history and extends a strong run of form in these qualifiers – they have punched above their weight.
At home in Cyprus, Pafos will look to maintain their disciplined, organized approach that frustrated the heavily favored Serbians. Their defense has been compact and goalkeeper Neofytos Michael has come up with clutch saves in earlier rounds. Still, even with a one-goal advantage, Pafos knows the job is only half-done; they can expect a furious response from Red Star. Red Star Belgrade, by contrast, are seasoned European campaigners and the reigning champions of Serbia. The first-leg loss in Belgrade was a shock to the system, and Red Star will arrive in Cyprus with urgency.
In domestic action, Red Star has been dominant as usual, so the defeat was more a matter of missed chances and defensive lapses than any decline in quality. Expect the visitors to press high and attack from the opening whistle as they attempt to overturn the 2-1 aggregate deficit.
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Pafos FC vs Red Star Belgrade Form
Pafos FC and Red Star Belgrade Latest Matches
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Aug 19, 2025 - Champions League
Aug 12, 2025 - Champions League
Aug 5, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 30, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 22, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 13, 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Aug 12, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 22, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 11, 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
May 18, 2025 - Cyta Championship
May 4, 2025 - Cyta Championship
Apr 30, 2025 - Cyprus Cup
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Aug 19, 2025 - Champions League
Aug 5, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 30, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 13, 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
Jul 5, 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
May 24, 2025 - Cyprus Cup
4/6 (67%)
1/6 (17%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Aug 19, 2025 - Champions League
Aug 15, 2025 - Serbian Super Liga
Aug 12, 2025 - Champions League
Aug 9, 2025 - Serbian Super Liga
Aug 6, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 29, 2025 - Champions League
4/6 (67%)
1/6 (17%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Aug 19, 2025 - Champions League
Aug 12, 2025 - Champions League
Aug 9, 2025 - Serbian Super Liga
Jul 29, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 26, 2025 - Serbian Super Liga
Jul 19, 2025 - Serbian Super Liga
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Aug 15, 2025 - Serbian Super Liga
Aug 6, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 22, 2025 - Champions League
Jul 10, 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
Jul 9, 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
Jul 4, 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
Pafos FC against Red Star Belgrade : Head to Head (H2H)
Aug 19, 2025 - Champions League
Red Star Belgrade v Pafos FC last Lineups
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Pafos FC - Red Star Belgrade Key Points
- Pafos are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
- Red Star are 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games
- The Over is 1-4 in Pafos' last 5 games
- The Over is 3-2 in Red Star's last 5 games
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Our Pafos FC vs Red Star Belgrade Prediction
Several players will be pivotal in this second leg. Pafos FC will be pinning their hopes on Croatian winger Mislav Oršić, a high-profile summer signing whose European experience has already paid dividends. Oršić’s creativity and knack for scoring in big games (he netted one of Pafos’s goals in the first leg) make him the danger man for the Cypriot side.
Red Star, meanwhile, boasts a roster loaded with talent and will look to its leaders to turn the tie around. Midfield general Rade Krunić, a Bosnian international, provides experience from his time in Italy and has chipped in goals during qualifying.
Up front, striker Cherif Ndiaye’s physical presence and finishing ability are crucial – Red Star will aim to supply him early and often after he was kept relatively quiet in the first leg. Additionally, creative forward Aleksandar Katai could be an X-factor if he finds space to operate.
The second leg is poised for high drama. Red Star Belgrade’s pedigree suggests they have a strong chance to recover – they have overcome deficits in Europe before – and the pressure will be on them to dictate the game. However, Pafos will be buoyed by home support and the confidence from their first-leg triumph. Ultimately, Red Star’s superior quality may prevail – but not without a scare. Pafos will make the Serbian giants earn every bit of their progress. Our prediction for Pafos FC vs Red Star Belgrade: Belgrade to win.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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