Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Pafos FC and Maccabi Tel Aviv, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
On Tuesday, Pafos will begin their 2025-26 campaign when they take on Maccabi Tel Aviv in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round.
For Maccabi, this will be their second competitive game of the season after losing to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Israeli Super Cup.
Match previewPafos are set to play European football for a second straight season after they made their UEFA competition debut in the 2024-25 campaign.
They started last season’s European journey in the Europa League qualifying rounds, before they dropped down to the Conference League qualifying stage and the subsequent main draw.
After successfully negotiating their way to the last 16, their debut European campaign was ultimately ended by a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Swedish side Djurgarden.
Pafos are now looking forward to making their first appearance in Champions League qualifying after lifting their maiden Cypriot First Division title last term.
Juan Carlos Carcedo’s side are yet to play a competitive game this season, but they should enter Tuesday’s first leg in a positive mood after putting together a four-game unbeaten run in pre-season.
They recorded draws against AFC Wimbledon and Orlando Pirates, either side of a win against Leyton Orient, before they collected a 3-2 victory in their most recent outing against Spanish side Real Valladolid.
In contrast to Pafos, Maccabi have previous experience competing in the Champions League qualifying rounds, although they will be keen to forget last season’s appearance in UEFA’s elite club competition.
Maccabi dropped down to the Europa League qualifiers and subsequent League Phase after falling to a narrow 2-1 aggregate defeat in their Champions League second-round qualifying tie against FCSB.
They are back competing in the same stage in 2025-26 after they retained their Israeli Premier League title last term, collecting 80 points from 36 matches to finish two points clear of second-placed Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
However, they were unable to get the better of Be’er Sheva in their first competitive outing of the new season in the Israeli Super Cup.
Weslley Patati netted a 62nd-minute equaliser to pull his team level against 10-man Be’er Sheva, but while Maccabi had a numerical advantage, they conceded the decisive goal in the 77th minute as they missed out on the trophy with a 2-1 defeat.
Zarko Lazetic’s side at least managed to return to winning ways in Wednesday’s friendly meeting with Hapoel Rishon leZion, and they will now look to start their European campaign with a victory, as they attempt to reach the Champions League main draw for the first time since 2015-16.
Pafos FC pre-season form:
D W D W
Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions):
L
Pafos summer signings Bruno Langa, Jaja, and Mons Bassouamina are all expected to feature in the matchday squad.
However, the club’s latest arrivals Pedrao and Alexandre Brito, have not been signed in time to play a role in Tuesday’s fixture.
The hosts will be able to call upon striker Anderson Silva, who has arrived on a permanent deal after he netted 17 goals in 57 competitive appearances during last season’s loan spell.
As for Maccabi, they have delved into the transfer market to sign Mohamed Camara, Heitor, Noam Ben Harush and Ion Nicolaescu.
They have also recruited Yoav Gerafi, Denny Gropper, Ben Lederman, and Itamar Noy on free transfers, and all eight of their summer arrivals are in contention to make Tuesday’s squad.
Dor Turgeman will offer one of Maccabi’s main attacking threats after scoring 20 competitive goals in 44 competitive matches last term.
Pafos FC possible starting lineup:
Michail; Bruno, Luckassen, Goldar, Langa; Pepe, Sunjic; Correia, Dragomir, Orsic; Silva
Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:
Gerafi; Asante, Schlomo, Stojic, Revivo; Sissokho, Shahar; Davida, Peretz, Patati; Turgeman
We say: Pafos FC 1-2 Maccabi Tel AvivMaccabi are used to competing in the preliminary stages of the Champions League, while Pafos are set to make their first appearance in the competition, and we think that the visitors’ vast experience of European competition will help them get the better of their Cypriot opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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