Crvena Zvezda vs Paphos Predictions

• Paphos’s last eight games have all featured fewer than three goals
• Both teams have scored in just two of Paphos’s last nine matches
• Crvena Zvezda are unbeaten in their last 15 games

Cypriots may be tough to break down

Crvena Zvezda are favourites to come out of their Champions League qualifier with Paphos with a first-leg advantage, but it looks as if the visitors will make life difficult for their Serbia hosts.

The Cypriot side have already had to negotiate tricky ties against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv, and have been in the unusual position of playing their away legs at neutral venues.

One of those against the Israelis took place in Serbia and Backa Topola, but they kept clean sheets in both of those matches and with none of their last eight matches featuring more than two goals, we could be set for another encounter.

Serbs’ class could tell in the end

A visit to Belgrade to face Crvena Zvezda does look like a step up, especially as their hosts have not tasted defeat in their last 15 outings, seeing off Lincoln Red Imps form Gibraltar and Lech Poznan in Europe’s top club competition.

But the Cypriots can put up a strong defensive display to stay in the tie, even if their hosts gain an advantage, so a 1-0 home win may be of interest to correct-score enthusiasts.