Will Red Star push into the CL again?
Red Star Belgrade is preparing to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage for the third time in a row. Marko Arnautovic and his teammates have one more hurdle to overcome before they can once again compete against Europe’s best clubs in the 36-team field. However, the task against the Cypriot champions from Pafos will be anything but easy. After all, when considering the Red Star Belgrade vs. Pafos tip, it must be taken into account that the visitors have played extremely well in qualifying so far and have been particularly solid defensively.
The team led by successful Spanish coach Juan Carlos Carcedo has already eliminated two prominent clubs in Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kiev. Now, however, they face a different caliber of opponent, as Crvena zvezda’s squad is four times as valuable as that of the nominal underdog. In addition, the Serbs’ greater international experience also tips the scales in their favor ahead of the Red Star Belgrade vs. Pafos match.
It is also clear that coach Vladan Milojevic’s protégés want to take the lead in front of their own fans at Marakana and at the same time set the course for qualification for the Champions League. A corresponding scenario is certainly conceivable at home, as the Serbian football dominator has not lost any of its last 17 home matches in all competitions.
It is therefore understandable that lower odds are being offered on “Crveno-Beli” ahead of the match between Red Star Belgrade and Pafos. It may be worth considering the Asian handicap in order to find a targeted compromise on the level of success to be expected. The Bet365 app offers a wide selection of such markets.
Red Star Belgrade – Statistics & current form
After Fudbalski Klub Crvena Zvezda Beograd, or Red Star Belgrade, had to deal with a few disappointing results in the preseason, the start of the new competitive season could hardly have gone better. They have played eight games, winning seven of them. The only draw came in the second leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League against Lech Poznan, but this was due to the fact that they were a man down for over 30 minutes and, thanks to their 3-1 win in the first leg in Poland, the Red and Whites were under no pressure to win.
Will Crvena zvezda’s offense continue its scoring streak?
The high-caliber offense is proving to be particularly efficient at this early stage of the season. Twenty-six goals scored in the eight games mentioned above impressively underscore the enormous power that the reigning double winners from Serbia can bring to the pitch. Just this weekend, they secured an unchallenged 4-1 away win at Mladost Lucani, with Aleksandar Katai emerging as the match winner with a hat trick.
This is important to note because Coach Milojevic’s top scorer in the Champions League qualifiers, with six goals in four games, is regularly benched from the start. Instead, the Red and Whites have the luxury of changing almost every position in their starting lineup in European competition compared to their domestic challenges.
However, this does not detract from their self-image of dominating matches and imposing their own style of play. On the contrary, on Tuesday evening, the coach will once again be able to field a rested team that will do everything in its power to ensure that the prediction of a home win between Red Star Belgrade and Pafos comes true. The top odds on the three-way market are 1.67 and can be combined with the exclusive $10 free bet from Interwetten, for example. Alternatively, the same bookmaker is offering a solid 2.40 if Olayinka, Ndiaye, Duarte, and Co. score at least once in each half at the Marakana.
Predicted line-up:
Matheus – Seol, Veljkovic, Lekovic, Tiknizyan – Elsnik, Kostov – Milson, Duarte, Olayinka – Ndiaye
Pafos – Statistics & current form
Pafos FC was only founded in 2014 as a merger of the two clubs AEK Kouklia and AE Pafos. Exactly ten years later, the club won its first title in the Cypriot Cup. Last season, after failing to qualify for the Europa League, the club from the port city finally made its international debut in the Europa Conference League, where it reached the round of 16 at the first attempt.
How will Pafos perform in the cauldron of Belgrade?
Noteworthy: On their way to the last 16 of the third most important club competition on the continent, it was always their home strength that laid the foundation for their success. They won seven of their eight home games (including qualifying), but lost five of their eight away games (1-2-5). It is safe to say that Carcedo’s team has far more problems away from home than in front of their own fans. This circumstance will certainly influence the betting odds offered by the new bookmakers for Red Star Belgrade vs. Pafos in August 2025.
This is particularly noteworthy given that the reigning champions did not have to play an away game in the first two qualifying rounds. Both matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kiev were played at neutral venues. That will change dramatically on Tuesday evening when almost 50,000 spectators at the Marakana will be cheering the hosts on loudly. It is quite possible that the nerves, experience, and resilience are not yet in the form needed to take a very good result into the second leg.
Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that the club, owned by two wealthy Russians, is defined by a very stable defense. Goalkeeper Michail has kept three clean sheets in a row. However, a purely defensive approach is unlikely to be effective against the increasing pressure from the home side. If they ultimately fail to relieve the pressure, I would even be inclined to check the odds between Red Star Belgrade and Pafos for the Red and Whites to score at least twice at home. You can get 1.58 for this in the Bet-at-Home app. Meanwhile, new and existing customers can benefit equally from the Bet-at-Home voucher.
Predicted line-up:
Michail – Bruno, Luckassen, Goldar, Pileas – Pepe, Sunjic; Correia, Dragomir, Orsic – Tankovic
Red Star Belgrade – Pafos Head-to-head record / H2H record
As Pafos FC is only appearing in European competition for the second time, there has logically been no direct duel that affects the head-to-head record in any way. In general, the Cypriot champions, whose season opener at home was postponed until the end of August, have never faced a club from Serbia in competitive action. Crvena zvezda, meanwhile, have not lost any of their nine previous matches against representatives from Cyprus. They have three wins and six draws to their name.
Red Star Belgrade – Pafos Tip
Red Star Belgrade successfully qualified for the Champions League in 2023/24 and 2024/25. In 2025/26, the Serbian double winners are aiming to complete the hat-trick. Pafos FC is an opponent that looks beatable on paper and is hardly a big name, but the Cypriot champions have shown in their matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kiev that they can be a very difficult opponent. However, Carcedo’s team is clearly weaker away from home. This is one of the reasons why I am convinced that Crvena zvezda will take an important step towards the Champions League group stage at home.
Milojevic’s team is not only unbeaten in 15 competitive games and 17 games at home, but also started the new season with seven wins from eight matches. 26 goals scored underscore the offensive strength of the Red and Whites, who want to and will take the initiative on Tuesday evening. I am therefore going for the Asian handicap (-0.75) in favor of the home side in the match between Red Star Belgrade and Pafos. A home win by two goals will see the 1.74 odds at Bet365 come in.
