A place in the UEFA Champions League will be at stake when Red Star Belgrade and Pafos draw swords at Stadium Rajko Mitic on Tuesday, 19 August 2025.
View our free Red Star Belgrade vs Pafos predictions below.
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Red Star Belgrade vs Pafos predictions: A low-scoring affair
Key stats
- Pafos' last six matches went below the 2.5-goal line.
- Red Star Belgrade are currently on a 12-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
- Pafos have won three in a row.
Correct score prediction: Red Star Belgrade 2-0 Pafos
To be fair, Pafos are on a three-match winning streak and a seven-game unbeaten run. However, they have never qualified for the UEFA Champions League, and their only appearance in a European club competition came in the Conference League last season.
In contrast, Red Star Belgrade have been regulars in this competition in recent years, as they qualified for the last two editions of the Champions League and have reached either the Champions League or Europa League in each of the last eight seasons.
Moreover, Red Star Belgrade have never lost to a team from Cyprus (W4, D7). Bearing in mind that they won seven of their last eight games, we are confident that the hosts will halt Pafos' unbeaten run on Tuesday night.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Red Star are clear favourites
- HOME: 13/20 (1.65) – 60.6%
- DRAW: 27/10 (3.70) – 27%
- AWAY: 16/5 (4.20) – 23.8%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Pafos eliminated Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the previous two qualifying rounds, while Red Star Belgrade defeated Lech Poznan and Lincoln Red Imps.
Ahead of this encounter, Red Star Belgrade are the expected winners at 13/20 (1.65). Teams with these odds usually have a 60.6% probability of winning.
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We have also established that fewer than three goals were scored in each of Pafos' last six matches. On that note, under 2.5 total goals has an appealing look at 11/10 (2.10). That one has a 47.6% chance of landing.
Most recent H2Hs: First encounter
Red Star Belgrade and Pafos will go toe-to-toe with each other for the first time on Tuesday. Interestingly, while this will be Pafos' first clash with a Serbian side, Red Star have a 4-7-0 win-draw-loss record in 11 previous meetings with teams from Cyprus.
Red Star Belgrade preview: A couple of absentees
The Red-Whites sit atop the Serbian top flight with four wins in as many league matches, and are not only well placed to defend their title after clinching it for the eighth consecutive time last campaign; they are also in line to make their third consecutive appearance in the UEFA Champions League.
First-choice goalkeeper Matheus sat out the 4-1 win at Mladost Lucani last weekend but should return for the first leg of this tie. Meanwhile, Rodrigao Prado will be unavailable for selection after the Brazilian defender received his marching orders in the second leg of their third qualifying round tie with Lech Poznan last week.
Cherif Ndiaye was substituted due to a knock in the clash with Lech Poznan and was not in the squad that faced Mladost over the weekend. However, he should be back for this matchup to take his place up front.
Adem Avdic remains touch-and-go for this clash after sustaining an injury last time out. Rade Krunic will be suspended for accumulated yellow cards, while Aleksandar Katai, who bagged a hat-trick last weekend, should be in line to start in attacking midfield.
Predicted lineup: Matheus (GK), Seol, Sandoval, Veljkovic, Tiknizyan, Kostov, Elsnik, Katai, Babicka, Ndiaye & Olayinka.
Serbia Super Liga 11/05/25
D
Vojvodina
1
Crvena Zvezda
1
Serbia Cup 07/05/25
W
FK Napredak
2
Crvena Zvezda
4
Serbia Super Liga 03/05/25
W
FK Backa Topola
1
Crvena Zvezda
2
Serbia Super Liga 27/04/25
W
OFK Beograd
2
Crvena Zvezda
5
Serbia Super Liga 23/04/25
L
FK Radnicki 1923
4
Crvena Zvezda
1
Pafos preview: Eyeing their fourth consecutive victory
Pafos have been resilient in the qualifying rounds, as they have gone unbeaten so far and must now work to crown their efforts with a playoff round triumph over Red Star Belgrade.
The visitors have no injury problems to contend with at the moment, which means Juan Carlos Carcedo will field a strong XI for this game, likely resembling the side that beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 in their last outing.
Domingos Quina is suspended for accumulated bookings. The former Watford midfielder's absence might not be felt, as Ivan Sunjic and Pepe are both fully fit for this contest.
Predicted lineup: Michail (GK), Bruno, Luckassen, Goldar, Pileas, Pepe, Sunjic, Correia, Orsic, Dragomir & Tankovic.
Cyprus Division 1 12/05/25
D
Apoel Nicosia
1
Pafos FC
1
Cyprus Cup 07/05/25
W
Apollon Limassol
0
Pafos FC
2
Cyprus Division 1 04/05/25
W
Aris Limassol
0
Pafos FC
4
Cyprus Cup 30/04/25
W
Apollon Limassol
2
Pafos FC
4
Cyprus Division 1 26/04/25
L
Omonia Nicosia
3
Pafos FC
0
Player to watch: Aleksandar Katai
Aleksandar Katai put in a man-of-the-match performance last weekend, scoring a hat-trick in Red Star Belgrade's 4-1 victory at Mladost Lucani. The former Olympiacos midfielder has nine goal contributions in his last six appearances across all competitions. He will fancy his chances against Pafos.