Pafos FC travel to Cyprus holding a 2-1 advantage after an early Joao Correia goal and a Pepe penalty, with Bruno Duarte replying for Red Star. The 11-year-old club can reach the Champions League group stage for the first time if they protect their lead in the second leg. Pafos have progressed past Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv this summer and reached the Conference League knockout rounds last season. Domingos Quina returns from suspension, and coach Juan Carlos Carcedo is expected to keep a similar lineup featuring Anderson Silva, Muamer Tankovic, Joao Correia, Mislav Orsic and Vlad Dragomir. Red Star saw a 15-match run end in the first leg but remain intent on overturning the deficit.
Silencing the famously hostile crowd at Belgrade's 'Marakana', Pafos delivered a shock inside the opening minute last Tuesday, as Joao Correia struck to give the visitors the lead. Pepe then doubled their advantage from the penalty spot shortly after the break, though Bruno Duarte quickly halved the deficit for Red Star six minutes later. That outcome leaves the tie delicately balanced ahead of this week's second leg in Cyprus, where Pafos have yet to begin their title defence.
Competing in the Champions League for the very first time, the 11-year-old club is only in its second season of UEFA competition, having already made history by advancing to the Conference League knockout rounds last year. After eliminating Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv earlier this summer, before edging Red Star in Serbia, Juan Carlos Carcedo's men are now within touching distance of Thursday's league-phase draw - though caution will remain the message.
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