Chelsea vs Pafos

The lights of Stamford Bridge will shine tonight, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for a historic first-time meeting in the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea hosts Cypriot side Pafos FC in a fixture that carries massive weight for the final "League Phase" standings.

Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET). Chelsea currently sits in 14th place with 10 points and is looking to break into the top eight for direct Round of 16 qualification. Meanwhile, Pafos is in 29th place with 6 points, fighting for a result to leapfrog into the top 24 and secure a play-off spot.

Match Information

Chelsea: The Rosenior Era Begins in Europe

This match marks the European debut for Chelsea’s new head coach, Liam Rosenior, who took over earlier this month. The Blues arrive with confidence following a 2–0 weekend victory over Brentford, but the squad has been hampered by a lingering illness that swept through Cobham last week.

Team News and Selection:

• Key Returns: Brazilian sensation Estêvão, winger Jamie Gittens, and Malo Gusto have all returned to training and are expected to be available after missing the weekend’s domestic action.

• Injury & Suspension: Tosin Adarabioyo (hamstring) is out for several weeks. Levi Colwill (ACL) and Romeo Lavia (thigh) remain long-term absentees. Mykhaylo Mudryk is also unavailable due to a disciplinary suspension.

• Wonderkid Watch: 18-year-old Estêvão has been the breakout star of the tournament, scoring in each of his three Champions League starts so far.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Andrey Santos; Estêvão, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto; Liam Delap.

Pafos FC: The David Luiz Homecoming

Pafos FC has been the "Cinderella story" of this year’s competition, but their away form has been a struggle. The Cypriot side has yet to score an away goal in the Champions League, suffering a 2–0 defeat to Juventus in their last road trip.

The emotional narrative of the night centers on David Luiz. The former Chelsea legend, now 38, captains Pafos and returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time as an opponent.

Team News and Selection:

• Suspensions: João Correia is out, presenting a tactical challenge for manager Albert Celades in the defensive line.

• Injury Report: Pedrão is a long-term absentee with an ACL injury.

• Creative Hub: Mislav Oršić and Domingos Quina will be tasked with providing the service to striker Landry Dimata.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Michail; Bruno, Luckassen, David Luiz, Langa; Šunjić, Pêpê; Quina, Dragomir, Oršić; Dimata.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and History

• First Meeting: This is the first-ever competitive meeting between Chelsea and Pafos.

• English vs. Cypriot: English teams have a dominant record against Cypriot opposition (W17, D3, L1).

• Fortress Bridge: Chelsea is unbeaten in their last 14 home games in the Champions League league phase/group stage (W10, D4).

• Defensive Resilience: Despite being in 29th place, only Benfica has conceded fewer goals than Pafos among teams in the bottom half of the table.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Chelsea will look to dominate possession and exploit the pace of their young wingers, Estêvão and Jamie Gittens. Rosenior has implemented a more direct approach since his arrival, encouraging his wide players to take on defenders in 1-on-1 situations.

Pafos is expected to sit in a very deep, narrow block, hoping to frustrate the Blues and use the aerial presence of David Luiz to clear crosses. However, with the individual quality of Cole Palmer and the current scoring streak of Estêvão, the hosts should have too much firepower.

Final Score Prediction: Chelsea 3–0 Pafos