Pafos vs Slavia Praha

The Alphamega Stadium in Limassol (serving as the home venue for the Cypriot champions) hosts a pivotal final league phase fixture tonight, Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Pafos FC welcomes Slavia Praha in a match where the hosts still harbor a slim hope of European survival.

Pafos FC enters the night in 30th place (6 points). Following narrow 2–0 and 1–0 losses to Juventus and Chelsea respectively, the "Light Brigade" must win tonight and hope for a series of favorable results elsewhere to climb into the top 24 for the knockout playoffs. Slavia Praha sits in 34th place (3 points) and has already been mathematically eliminated from the competition, playing now for pride and a first win of the campaign.

Match Information

Pafos FC: The Debutant’s Last Stand

Under new head coach Albert Celades, who took the reins on January 9, 2026, Pafos has shown defensive resilience but struggled to find the net. Their historic debut campaign has seen them punch well above their weight, but three consecutive losses in all competitions have dampened their momentum. Tonight is about recapturing the magic of the early group stages.

Team News and Selection:

• Midfield Void: The hosts will be without Bosnian midfielder Ivan Šunjić, who is serving a suspension after picking up his third yellow card against Chelsea.

• Defensive Doubts: Veteran David Luiz is a major doubt with a knee injury. Defenders Goldar and João Correia are also struggling with muscle injuries, leaving the backline thin.

• The Creative Spark: Mislav Oršić remains the focal point; he is the only Pafos player to record both a goal and an assist in the league phase.

• Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Jay Gorter; Luckassen, Guessand, Pileas; Bruno Felipe, Pêpê, Dragomir, Sema; Oršić, Valakari; Dimata.

Slavia Praha: Restoration of Pride

Jindřich Trpišovský’s side has had a miserable European run, winless in 14 matches across all competitions. While they are flying domestically—sitting seven points clear at the top of the Czech First League—their Champions League form has been undermined by defensive fragility. With nothing to lose, they may play with a freedom that makes them dangerous.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Crisis: Slavia’s list of absentees is extensive. Tomáš Holeš and David Moses are likely to miss out after being subbed off against Barcelona. Dominic Javorček, Petr Ševčík, and Ondřej Zmrzlý are also sidelined.

• Attacking Threat: Vasil Kušej and Tomáš Chorý will look to exploit a depleted Pafos defense.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Staněk; Chaloupek, Zima, Ogbu, Dorley; Sadílek, Provod; Kušej, Cham, Schranz; Chorý.

Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• First Encounter: This is the first time these two teams have ever met in a competitive fixture.

• Home Comforts: Despite recent form, Pafos has lost only one of their last 10 European home matches (W6, D3).

• Defensive Woes: Slavia Praha has conceded 15 goals in 7 games (2.1 per match) and has not kept a clean sheet in the league phase.

• Goal Drought: Pafos has failed to score in their last two Champions League outings (vs. Juventus and Chelsea).

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Pafos will likely lean on their home crowd and Albert Celades' tactical discipline to keep things tight early. They rank low in pass completion under pressure, so expect Slavia's high-pressing system to cause problems if Pafos tries to play out from the back. However, Slavia’s own inability to secure the ball in the final third often leads to rapid counters—a scenario where Oršić thrives.

Slavia's freedom from the pressure of qualification might actually help them find the net, but Pafos’ sheer desperation for a result to keep their dream alive should provide the necessary edge.

Final Score Prediction: Pafos FC 2–1 Slavia Praha