Pafos, founded 11 years ago, secured a 3-2 aggregate victory over Red Star Belgrade after an 89th-minute equaliser by Brazilian winger Jaja. Pafos began in the second qualifying round and will become only the third Cypriot club to play in the Champions League after signing defender David Luiz. Bodo/Glimt advanced with a 6-2 aggregate win over Sturm Graz despite losing the second leg and are the first Norwegian club in the competition proper since Rosenborg in 2007–08. The club plays at the 8,270-seat Aspmyra Stadion, 200km north of the Arctic Circle. Kairat beat Celtic on penalties to become the second Kazakh qualifier. Union Saint-Gilloise also make a maiden appearance.
Only founded 11 years ago, Pafos secured a late 1-1 draw on Tuesday with Red Star Belgrade to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory. Bodo/Glimt also advanced to the league phase with a 6-2 aggregate win over Austrian side Sturm Graz, despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg. The duo will join Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, who stunned Celtic on penalties, and Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in making their first appearances in Europe's top-tier competition.
Pafos began their continental journey in the second qualifying round on 22 July, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv en route to the play-offs. Leading 2-1 from the first leg, Brazilian winger Jaja scored an 89th-minute equaliser in the Limassol return after Mirko Ivanic had put Red Star 1-0 up on the night. The Cypriot champions, who recently signed 38-year-old former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz,
Kairat, who edged past Scottish champions Celtic in a shootout after a goalless draw in both ties, are the second Kazakh side to qualify for the competition after Astana in 201516. The journey to Almaty in central Asia could be one of the most difficult for Kairat's European opponents and Chelsea made a 3,600-mile trip to the city last season to face Astana on their way to winning the Uefa Conference League.
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