Champions League play-offs: Crvena Zvezda vs Pafos facts

UEFA Champions League regulars Crvena Zvezda face newcomers Pafos in the first leg of their play-off at the Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade.

Last match

This is the first UEFA competition match between these teams.

Crvena Zvezda

The Belgrade side are looking to reach the Champions League proper for the fifth time – all since 2018/19 – and the third in succession. They were 29th in last season's league phase on six points (W2 L6).

Last season's 3-2 aggregate victory against Bodø/Glimt (1-2 a, 2-0 h) made the Serbian side's play-off record W3 L1.

Crvena Zvezda have won three and drawn six of their nine UEFA matches against teams from Cyprus, most recently a one-legged tie against Omonoia in the 2020/21 Champions League third qualifying round when they were eliminated on penalties (2-4) following a 1-1 draw.

That was their first encounter against a Cypriot team since they won 6-5 on penalties against Omonoia in the 2012/13 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round after both legs had finished goalless.

European champions in 1991, Crvena zvezda claimed their eighth successive Serbian league title – and 36th championship overall – in 2024/25, also winning the Serbian Cup for the fifth season in a row.

Pafos

Pafos are in the Champions League for the first time this season.

The Cypriot club took part in UEFA competition for the first time in 2024/25, losing to Elfsborg in the Europa League first qualifying round but going on to reach the UEFA Conference League round of 16.

Juan Carlos Carcedo's side are aiming to be the third team from Cyprus to reach the Champions League proper after APOEL (four times) and Anorthosis Famagusta (once), and the first since APOEL in 2017/18.

Pafos are facing a Serbian team for the first time.

Pafos were crowned Cypriot champions for the first time in 2024/25.

Key stats

Crvena Zvezda kicked off the current Champions League campaign in the second qualifying round, beating Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar 6-1 on aggregate (1-0 a, 5-1 h), before a 4-1 defeat of Poland's Lech Poznań in the third qualifying round (3-1 a, 1-1 h).

'Red Star' have opened the scoring in all four Champions League matches this season.

Bruno Duarte has scored in three of Crvena Zvezda's four games.

Pafos are unbeaten in their four qualifying matches this season (W3 D1), beating Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the second qualifying round (1-1 h, 1-0 a) and Dynamo Kyiv in the third (1-0 a, 2-0 h).

The team from Cyprus suffered five defeats in their first seven European games (W2) but have been beaten in only three of the subsequent 15 (W9 D3).

Indeed, a 3-0 loss at Djurgården in last season's Conference League round of 16 second leg (1-3 aggregate) is Pafos' only reverse in ten European games (W6 D3).