UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2
Pafos 1 - 1 FT Maccabi Tel Aviv
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Brighton
3-0
Arsenal
⚡ Intensity
37
⚖️ Balance
17
🏆 Stakes
70
🎲 Upset
80
Brighton dismantle league leaders Arsenal.
Futmetrix Verdict
62
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Newcastle
2-1
Hull City
⚡ Intensity
61
⚖️ Balance
41
🏆 Stakes
40
🎲 Upset
0
Early blitz secures Newcastle home victory
Futmetrix Verdict
81
Gamba Osaka
vs
Vissel Kobe
Sun, Sep 20 • 08:00 UTC
⚡ Form
54
⚖️ Balance
90
🏆 Stakes
78
⭐ Stars
91
Kansai Derby drama awaits in Suita.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Mohamed Camara 27'
Weslley Patati 31'
Tyrese Asante 45'+1
HT
↓ M. Camara ↑Heitor 46'
↓ B. Lederman ↑I. Shahar 63'
69' ↓ V. Dragomir ↑M. Orsic
69' ↓ K. Pileas ↑K. Sema
69' ↓ Anderson Silva ↑M. Bassouamina
↓ D. Turgeman ↑I. Nicolaescu 70'
↓ O. Davida ↑S. Jehezkel 70'
75' Muamer Tanković
78' ↓ M. Tankovic ↑D. Quina
78' ↓ Bruno ↑Jaja
79' João Correia
81' M. Bassouamina
↓ Weslley Patati ↑E. Madmon 88'
90' David Goldar
E. Madmon 90'
90'+6 Jajá
90'+7 Domingos Quina
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Pafos
Goalkeepers
Neofytos Michael
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Derrick Luckassen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
David Goldar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kostas Pileas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Felipe
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
João Correia
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ivan Šunjić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pêpê
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vlad Dragomir
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Muamer Tankovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Anderson Silva
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Petros Petrou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Thanasis Papadoudis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Langa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pedro Henrique
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Domingos Quina
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jajá
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ken Sema
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mislav Oršić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Marios Ilia
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mons Bassouamina
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Goalkeepers
Yoav Gerafi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Tyrese Asante
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
N. Stojic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mohamed Ali Camara
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Roy Revivo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Dor Peretz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Benjamin Lederman
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Issouf Sissokho
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Osher Davida
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Weslley Patati
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Dor Turgeman
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Ofek Melika
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Roi Mishpati
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Heitor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sagiv Yehezkel
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Raz Shlomo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Denny Gropper
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Noam Ben Harush
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Itamar Noy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ido Shahar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Elad Madmon
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ion Nicolăescu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
H. Addo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/22/2025 | Pafos | 1 - 1 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | UEFA Champions League | Alphamega Stadium |
07/22/2025
Pafos Win
Maccabi Tel Aviv Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Pafos
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Pafos
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Madmon's Last-Gasp Leveller Snatches Draw from Pafos's Grasp
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 44/100. With European football's elite on the line, Pafos and Maccabi Tel Aviv shared the spoils in a Champions League qualifier that proved the cruelest of teachers: a single moment erases an entire performance.
Pafos's Moment of Glory
For nine minutes, Pafos had tasted European glory. M. Bassouamina's clinical finish in the 81st minute at Alphamega Stadium sent the home support into raptures. The Cypriot side, operating with intensity that belied their modest league position (26th, six points from six matches), had weathered the stakes of continental football and found the breakthrough their display deserved. One goal separated them from a commanding advantage heading into the return leg.
The Cruelest Twist
Then came the 90th minute. As the final whistle approached, Maccabi Tel Aviv struck. E. Madmon's goal in the dying moments—a punch to the solar plexus delivered when Pafos believed the battle won—restored balance and shattered certainty. The Israeli side had absorbed pressure throughout but found their moment when it mattered most. One draw instead of a victory. One tie instead of control. The upset factor cut both ways: Pafos's late lead evaporated; Maccabi's survival instincts delivered a lifeline.
The Larger Picture
This draw reveals the brutal mathematics of European football. Pafos entered this tie as underdogs—their domestic form (one win in six, minus-five goal difference) screamed vulnerability. Yet at Alphamega Stadium, they competed with the composure of a team that knows what's at stake. Equally, Maccabi Tel Aviv showed the resilience required to survive continental warfare. Neither side will be satisfied. Both will view this as a missed opportunity. The second leg becomes a referendum on who learned the harder lesson tonight.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Tactical Chess Match in Cyprus
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 8/100. This tie represents a high-wire act where the slightest tactical lapse could end a European campaign before it truly begins.
The Setup
As the sun sets on July 22, 2025, at the Alphamega Stadium, the Stakes for this 2nd Qualifying Round encounter couldn't be clearer. For Pafos, this is an opportunity to prove they belong on the continental stage, though their recent Form has been patchy at best with only one win in their last five outings. They face a Maccabi Tel Aviv side that brings significant European pedigree to the pitch. The Balance of this fixture suggests a cagey opening leg, where neither side will be willing to overcommit early on. With low Stars power across the board, the narrative shifts from individual brilliance to collective discipline and structural integrity.
Key Battle
The primary conflict will unfold between the Pafos forward line and the visiting defensive unit. Much of the home side's hope rests on the shoulders of L. Dimata, whose ability to hold up the ball and bring others into play will be vital against a disciplined Israeli back four. If L. Dimata can find pockets of space between the lines, the Cypriot side might find the breakthrough. Conversely, the visitors will likely look to frustrate the home crowd, playing a low block and waiting for the transition moments that often define these high-pressure qualifying ties.
Our Prediction
Expect a match dictated by caution rather than flair. Pafos will attempt to control possession, but the lack of clinical edge shown in their recent domestic performances suggests they may struggle to break down a resolute Maccabi Tel Aviv. A 1-1 draw seems the most plausible outcome, leaving the tie perfectly poised for the second leg and rewarding those who appreciate the tactical grind of European qualification.