Preview: Pafos FC vs Dynamo Kiev - prediction, team news, lineups

Cypriot side Pafos FC will host Dynamo Kiev at Alphamega Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie.

The hosts claimed a 1-0 victory in the first leg away from home, courtesy of an 84th-minute strike from Brazilian forward Anderson.

Match preview

Juan Carlos Carcedo’s side are aiming to reach the league phase of UEFA’s elite club competition in their debut appearance, and they are firmly on course after securing an impressive first-leg win.

After failing to win any of their first nine European away matches, the Cypriot champions have now triumphed in their last two, both coming in this year’s Champions League qualifiers.

To reach this stage, Pafos defeated Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 on aggregate in the second qualifying round, drawing 1-1 at home before sealing a 1-0 victory on the road.

Another draw on Tuesday would be enough to send them through, and Carcedo will hope that last season’s run to the Conference League round of 16 provides valuable experience, even if they remain the only debutants left in this year’s Champions League qualifying.

Pafos arrive in strong form, unbeaten in normal time across their last 12 matches in all competitions, including pre-season friendlies against AFC Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, and Orlando Pirates.

Dynamo Kiev reached this stage by thrashing Maltese club Hamrun Spartans 6-0 on aggregate in the previous round.

However, the Ukrainian side failed to reproduce that attacking spark in the first leg of this tie and now find themselves in danger of missing the league phase for the second straight season, after falling at the playoff round last year.

The last time the Blue and Whites reached the tournament proper was in 2021-22, and they will need a major turnaround to keep hopes alive this time.

Over the weekend, Dynamo returned to domestic action with an emphatic 5-1 away win over Rukh Lviv, taking them top of the league with six points from two matches, a result they will look to replicate on Tuesday.

Pafos FC Champions League form:

Pafos FC form (all competitions):

Dynamo Kiev Champions League form:

Dynamo Kiev form (all competitions):

Team News

Jaja was a constant threat to Dynamo goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret in the first leg and was eager to get on the scoresheet, supported by former Southampton forward Mislav Orsic in the attacking midfield roles.

At the back, the pairing of Derrick Luckassen and David Goldar will aim to deliver another composed performance, just as they did last week.

For Dynamo, keeping former West Ham forward Andriy Yarmolenko on the pitch for the full 90 minutes will be key, as their attacking threat faded noticeably after he was withdrawn just past the hour mark.

Vladyslav Vanat and Mykola Shaparenko are expected to join Yarmolenko again in a three-man front line, this time hoping to produce the goals needed to turn the tie in their favour.

Pafos FC possible starting lineup:

Michael; Correira, Luckassen, Goldar, Pileas; Rodrigues, Tankovic, Sunjic; Orsic, Jaja; Dragomir

Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:

Nescheret; Tymchyk, Popov, Mykhavko, Dubinchak; Pikhalonok, Mykhailenko, Buyalskyi; Yarmolenko, Vanat, Shaparenko

We say: Pafos FC 1-1 Dynamo Kiev

Pafos have Dynamo Kyiv exactly where they want them, with the Ukrainian side needing to chase the game, and that urgency will likely open spaces for the hosts to exploit on the counter. While the visitors possess enough attacking quality to find a breakthrough, there is no guarantee they will not be exposed defensively as well.

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