Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
An away trip to Crvena Zvezda is likely to prove too much for Pafos. The Cypriot champions have already surprised many by knocking out Maccabi (2:1 on aggregate) and Dynamo Kyiv (3:0), but the level of opposition in Belgrade will be a significant step up.
Crvena Zvezda
Crvena, in the previous Champions League qualifying round, also faced a tricky opponent. They earned a cushion away to Lech (3:1) and at home held on for nearly 40 minutes with ten men before conceding (1:1). On Friday, the team tore apart Mladost away (4:1), with veteran forward Aleksandar Katai scoring a second-half hat-trick. The only setback for the Belgrade outfit was the loss of Adem Avdic, who picked up an injury in the last round of the SuperLiga.
Pafos
For Pafos, it is unlikely that 38-year-old David Luiz will make his debut in Serbia — the former Chelsea and PSG defender has been sidelined for over a month with a thigh injury. The Cypriots coped without him against Dynamo Kyiv, enjoying less possession in both legs but still going through. The concern for the team in Belgrade will be the closing stages, as experienced players like Mislav Orsic, Ken Sema and Ivan Sunjic struggle to cope under high pressing.
Crvena Zvezda vs Pafos Prediction
The gulf in quality (79.2 million euros vs 20.9) suggests Crvena Zvezda will deal with Pafos in front of their home fans. The Cypriots are dangerous but may already have reached their ceiling in this Champions League qualifying campaign.
