Pafos FC vs Red Bull Salzburg Preview: Prediction, Team News & Lineups

The Alphamega Stadium in Limassol braces for a high-stakes European night as Pafos FC host Red Bull Salzburg in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 third qualifying round. The match takes place on Thursday, 13 August 2026, with kickoff at 20:00 local time. The winner advances to the play-off round, while the loser drops into the UEFA Conference League play-offs. Salzburg carry a one-goal cushion into Cyprus after a 1-0 win in the first leg , making this second leg at the Alphamega a genuine must-win occasion for the Cypriot side. For serious punters tracking this fixture, Pafos FC vs Red Bull Salzburg predictions and live odds are updated in real time on Betiball.

Match Overview

On Thursday, August 13, Pafos FC face Red Bull Salzburg in the UEFA Europa League Q3 second leg, with kickoff at 20:00 local time at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol. Salzburg head into the tie with a narrow but meaningful aggregate lead, having won the first leg 1-0 at the Red Bull Arena the previous week.

Salzburg have become accustomed to competing in Champions League qualifying, but they settled for a place in the preliminary stages of the Europa League following last season's third-placed finish in the Austrian Bundesliga. They begin this latest European campaign under Danny Röhl, who left his position as Rangers boss to pen a three-year contract with the Austrian giants.

For Pafos, the tie represents a chance to prove their European credentials on home soil. They have won just four of their 13 European away games across the main draw and qualifying of UEFA's three club competitions , but their home record is a different story entirely, as demonstrated in the previous round.

Pafos FC Form & Recent Results

Pafos FC's route to this point has been a rollercoaster. The Cypriot side trailed 2-0 after a first-leg defeat in Croatia against Hajduk Split in the second qualifying round, and had failed to keep a clean sheet in three consecutive games, going winless in four across all competitions heading into that decisive home tie.

What happened next, however, revealed a team capable of extraordinary home performances. Pafos defeated Hajduk Split 4-0 at the Alphamega to go through 4-2 on aggregate, a stunning comeback that kept their European journey alive. That win showed both the quality of their home crowd advantage and their clinical edge when the pressure is highest.

Their start to the current qualifying campaign, though, tells a different tale. Manager Ricardo Sa Pinto's side managed only one win in four pre-season friendlies, losing two and drawing one. Pafos have also won none of their previous five away games , a stat that matters little in this leg, but hints at a squad still finding its best form.

Red Bull Salzburg Form & Recent Results

Danny Röhl, from Germany and aged 37, is the head coach of Red Bull Salzburg. He took charge of a squad in transition this summer, with notable departures shaping the squad ahead of a new European campaign. Salzburg can no longer call upon Adam Daghim, who recently completed a move to German side Hoffenheim. Joane Gadou also departed, joining Borussia Dortmund, while Mads Bidstrup signed for Lyon.

Despite the upheaval, Salzburg have started the season with purpose. Their most recent domestic result before the Europa League tie was a 1-0 win against TSV Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga. Röhl is likely to keep changes to a minimum following that victory, with Konate pushing for a starting berth after coming off the bench to score the winner.

Salzburg's pre-season included a dominant warm-up, with a 4-0 win over FC Kharkiv among their friendly results. Yorbe Vertessen and Gaoussou Diakite were prominent in the first leg, with Salzburg competing in the Bundesliga, UEFA Europa League, and the Club World Cup this term.

Team News & Possible Lineups

Pafos FC

Pafos head into the second leg with two notable absences to manage. Goalkeeper Charalambos Kyriakidis is expected to be out due to an arm injury. Winger Jaja faces an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the second leg against Hajduk Split.

The spine of the team that produced the spectacular 4-0 comeback should largely remain intact. Based on available information, key players in the first leg included:

• Ivan Sunjic in midfield, providing defensive cover
• Domingos Quina and Lelê operating in wider or creative roles
• Biel active on the left wing
• David Luiz and Alexandre Brito in central defense
• Guga operating in a defensive or wide role

Expected lineup (4-3-3/4-2-3-1): Backup GK; Alexandre Brito, David Luiz, Guga, full-back; Sunjic, midfield pivot; Domingos Quina, Gonçalo Rodrigues; Biel, striker, Lelê.

Red Bull Salzburg

John Mellberg and Stefan Lainer have both been included in the squad list for the playoff round despite doubts over their fitness due to recent injury struggles. Salzburg will assess both players ahead of the trip to Limassol.

Midfielders Yorbe Vertessen and Dominik Schmid were active threats in the first leg and are expected to feature again, along with Gaoussou Diakite. Karim Konate scored the winner against Hartberg and is pressing for a start , while captain Alexander Schlager is expected to continue in goal.

Expected lineup (4-3-3/4-2-3-1): Schlager; Terzic (or Lainer), defensive line; Diakite, Schmid; Vertessen, Konate, Baidoo.

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Prediction

The statistical picture strongly favors Salzburg advancing. They hold a clean one-goal aggregate lead coming into a ground where Pafos, for all their home-crowd electricity, have won only four of their 13 European games in all UEFA competition formats . Pafos need at least two goals without reply — or to score two and keep it tight — which is a high ask against a well-organized Austrian side. Check today's football predictions on Betiball for the latest odds movements as team news firms up closer to kickoff.

Tactically, Danny Röhl's side have shown in the first leg and in the Bundesliga win over Hartberg that they are defensively organized and patient. Pafos's manager will almost certainly push for a high press and an early goal to change the aggregate scoreline, which could leave space on the counter for Vertessen and Konate. Pafos have not won any of their previous five away games , and while this is a home fixture for the Cypriots, their squad depth in attack is compromised by the ACL injury to Jaja.

The most likely outcome is a tight, nervy affair where Salzburg's discipline and first-leg advantage carry them through. Pafos will create chances, and the home crowd will generate noise, but conceding an away goal would put the tie completely beyond reach. Betiball's read: Pafos FC to win the leg 1-0, Red Bull Salzburg to advance 1-1 on aggregate via away goals rule (or after extra time) — predicted leg scoreline: Pafos FC 1-0 Red Bull Salzburg.