With a mountain to climb following a disastrous first leg, Pafos FC will welcome Elfsborg to Alphamega Stadium for the second leg of their Europa League first-round qualifier on Thursday night.
The Cypriots are looking to overturn a three-goal deficit created last week, meaning that the Yellow Ones are overwhelming favourites to advance into the next round.
Match preview
Playing their first competitive fixture of the 2024-25 campaign, Pafos looked well off the pace at Boras Arena last Thursday night, when hosts Elfsborg recorded a comfortable three-goal victory to put one foot in the second round of qualifying for the Europa League league phase.
The visitors found themselves a goal down inside the opening 10 minutes due to a strike from Besfort Zeneli, before efforts after the half-time whistle by Niklas Hult and Per Frick sentenced the Cypriots to a heavy defeat that puts their progression in serious doubt.
Last week's clash in Boras was Pafos's first-ever fixture on the continental stage, with Juan Carlos Carcedo's troops requiring a three-goal victory at Alphamega Stadium in the second leg to just take the contest to extra time and potentially penalty kicks this time around.
The Cypriots were not shy in front of goal at the conclusion of the 2023-24 term, with Pafos beating Omonia Nicosia 3-0 in the Cypriot Cup final to earn a coveted spot in the qualifying stages of the Europa League.
Although Elfsborg will be mightily pleased with their first-leg showing at home last week, the Swedish outfit could have been even further out of the sight in the two-legged affair, but Arber Zeneli's missed penalty means that Pafos still have a glimmer of hope heading into Thursday's deciding clash.
The Yellow Ones returned to Allsvenskan action on Sunday afternoon and produced an exceptional display on the road, putting five goals past fourth-placed Hacken, with centre-back Terry Yegbe netting an unlikely brace for the visitors in Goteborg.
Winning three straight matches since returning from the month-long summer break, Elfsborg are in great shape to advance into the second round of qualifying on Thursday night, when the Swedish powerhouses will be striving for back-to-back victories on the continental stage.
Despite the Yellow Ones still being well in the hunt for a top-three spot in the Allsvenskan this season, their stuttering away form has been a cause for considerable concern, with Thursday's visitors to Cyprus collecting just two points from eight away league matches, losing on six occasions.
Team News
After receiving his marching orders for two yellow cards during the first leg, Matias Melluso will be suspended for Pafos as they aim to stage a remarkable comeback.
As a result, the hosts will require a new face at right-back, with the versatile Onni Valakari potentially set to operate in the backline.
There could be some attacking changes for Pafos after they fired a blank in Sweden, but talismanic figures Jairo and Muamer Tankovic should retain their spots.
Following their substitutions prior to the 60-minute mark on Sunday, the likes of Camil Jebara and Michael Baidoo should keep their places in the forward line for Elfsborg.
Arber Zeneli bagged a brace off the bench and could be rewarded with a start, whilst youngsters such as Jalal Abdulai could be given some game time with the Swedes possessing a handsome lead in the tie.
Pafos FC possible starting lineup:
Ivusic; Valakari, Kvida, Goldar, Correia; Pelagio, Name; Felipe, Dragomir, Tankovic; Jairo
Elfsborg possible starting lineup:
Pettersson; Holmen, Henriksson, Yegbe; Kaib, B Zeneli, Ouma, Hult; A Zeneli, Jebara, Baidoo
We say: Pafos FC 2-1 Elfsborg (Elfsborg win 4-2 on aggregate)
Pafos need to score three goals without reply just to take the game into extra time, but we cannot envisage such a scenario given that Elfsborg have netted 11 times in their last three matches.
The Yellow Ones are not amazing on the road typically and could lose on the night, but the Swedes have a large enough lead on aggregate to cruise into the next stage.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
