Red Star Belgrade vs Pafos FC Predictions

Crvena Zvezda vs Pafos predictions for Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying fixture. Red Star Belgrade host Pafos FC on Tuesday in Serbia for the first leg of their Champions League playoff, with a group-stage spot at stake. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips

Champions League | Aug 19 2025 at 8:00 pm UK at Stadion Rajko Mitic

Red Star Belgrade vs Pafos FC Predictions

Will Red Star’s Fortress Hold Strong Against Brave Pafos?

• Fortress Marakana: Red Star are unbeaten in their last 17 home matches across all competitions, scoring multiple goals in most of those fixtures.
• Pafos resilient but limited: The Cypriot champions have conceded only once in their last four European matches, yet they face their toughest test in Belgrade.
• Goal-hungry Red Star: Vladan Milojevic’s side have already netted 16 times in four domestic games this season, averaging a remarkable four goals per match.

Best Bet for Red Star Belgrade vs Pafos FC

The Marakana in Belgrade is preparing for a night that could shape the season. On Tuesday evening, Red Star Belgrade welcome Cypriot champions Pafos for the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie, with a coveted spot in the league phase hanging in the balance. For Red Star, this is familiar ground; they have been mixing with Europe’s elite in recent years and arrive with momentum after brushing aside Lincoln Red Imps and Lech Poznan. For Pafos, though, this is uncharted territory—their first attempt to make the competition proper, and the weight of history gives them a clear underdog tag.

Red Star look strong both domestically and in Europe. They’ve already hit double digits in goal difference in their SuperLiga campaign and are unbeaten in 15 competitive games. Playing at home, where they haven’t tasted defeat in 17 outings, they are almost untouchable. Yet, football has a funny way of humbling even the giants, and Pafos will come to Belgrade dreaming of rewriting their own history.

The Cypriots are no strangers to upsetting bigger names, having seen off Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv to get here. Their squad is full of experience, with Mislav Orsic, Joao Correia and Muamer Tankovic offering threat in attack, while a multinational defence has proven tough to crack. Still, stepping into the bear pit of Belgrade is a different kind of challenge altogether.

---

Best Bet for this Match

At BettingTips4You, we don’t play the numbers game with dozens of options. We focus on one clear selection, carefully chosen as the best value bet for this clash. For Red Star vs Pafos, our Best Bet is Red Star to win and over 1.5 team goals.

Why this pick? Firstly, the Serbian champions are ruthless at home. They blew away Lech Poznan with three goals across the tie, and they’ve scored in every competitive game this season. The presence of Bruno Duarte, already prolific in qualifying, and Cherif Ndiaye, who provides another dimension in attack, ensures Red Star can hurt opponents in multiple ways. Add Milson and Olayinka providing creativity from the flanks, and you’ve got a side capable of overwhelming even the most disciplined defence.

Pafos, of course, deserve credit. They haven’t conceded in either leg against Dynamo Kyiv, which speaks volumes about their organisation. But the level of intensity and firepower they’ll face in Belgrade is on another scale. Rodrigo’s suspension and Rade Krunic’s absence will test Red Star’s balance, yet the sheer volume of attacking options should outweigh those setbacks. Pafos will likely sit deep, but one moment of sustained pressure could easily turn into two quick goals given Red Star’s ability to swarm opponents.

As BettingTips4You.com expert Gerard Gabasa put it:

“There’s no escaping the Marakana factor. Red Star don’t just win here, they dominate, and Pafos will struggle to keep the floodgates shut for 90 minutes.”

A 2-0 or 3-1 scoreline feels realistic, but the underlying call is Red Star scoring at least twice while marching towards a crucial first-leg win.

Selected Bookmakers Offers