Preview:Pafos FC vs Red Star Belgrade - prediction, team news, lineups

Within touching distance of making their full Champions League debut, Pafos FC will aim to finish the job on Tuesday, when they conclude their Champions League playoff with Red Star Belgrade.

Leading by a goal from last week's first leg, the Cypriot champions are now one step away from the promised land, but Red Star still have hope of turning the tie around.

Match preview

Facing down the notorious home crowd at Belgrade's 'Marakana', Pafos stunned their hosts into silence last Tuesday, as Joao Correia put the visitors in front within a minute of kickoff.

Then, soon after half time, Pepe extended their lead from the spot, before Bruno Duarte pulled one back for Red Star six minutes later.

That result leaves the tie finely poised ahead of this week's return leg in Cyprus, where Pafos have yet to kick off their title defence.

Making their Champions League bow this year, it is only the 11-year-old club's second season in any UEFA competition, having written history by reaching the Conference League knockout rounds last term.

After beating Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv earlier this summer, before edging to victory in Serbia, Juan Carlos Carcedo's side are now close to entering Thursday's draw for the league phase - though they will surely take nothing for granted.

While Pafos are 11 games unbeaten dating back to last season, Red Star's 15-match undefeated streak was finally ended last time out, leaving them with a tough task to complete in Limassol.

Currently seeking a third consecutive appearance in the Champions League, Crvena Zvezda finished 29th in the inaugural league phase last term, beating Young Boys and Stuttgart along the way.

European champions back in 1991, the Serbian side strolled through to this year's playoff stage, easing past Lincoln Red Imps (6-1 on aggregate) and Lech Poznan (4-2), before stumbling to a rare loss on home turf.

Vladan Milojevic's men also boast a perfect record and plus-14 goal difference after four games of their latest domestic title defence, most recently beating Mladost Lucani 4-1 in the SuperLiga.

Like Pafos, they were given the weekend off to prepare for Tuesday's decider, so both teams should be perfectly prepared for such a high-stakes showdown.

Pafos FC Champions League form: D W W W W

Red Star Belgrade Champions League form: W W W D L

Red Star Belgrade form (all competitions): W W W D W L

Team News

Pafos can recall Domingos Quina, after the former Watford man missed last week's trip to Serbia through suspension, but Juan Carlos Carcedo is not expected to make many changes.

Anderson Silva and Muamer Tankovic should again link up in the final third, with support from first-leg scorer Joao Correia.

Mislav Orsic and ex-Arsenal winger Vlad Dragomir are also attacking options for the home side, while Red Star are similarly well stocked.

New signing Marko Arnautovic could be involved at some stage, while another veteran striker, Aleksandar Katai, netted a hat-trick on his last league start.

Nonetheless, Cherif Ndiaye should partner Bruno Duarte, who has scored four times in European qualifying so far.

Brazilian centre-back Rodrigao and ex-AC Milan midfielder Rade Krunic are both back after serving UEFA bans, and Nemanja Radonjic will be fit enough for the bench, significantly strengthening Vladan Milojevic's hand.

Pafos FC possible starting lineup: Michail; Bruno, Luckassen, Goldar, Pileas; Pepe, Sunjic; Correia, Dragomir, Tankovic; Anderson

Red Star Belgrade possible starting lineup: Matheus; Seol, Veljkovic, Rodrigao, Tiknizyan; Elsnik, Krunic; Milson, Duarte, Ivanic; Ndiaye