'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Pafos meet Zalgiris at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol on Thursday (August 1) in the second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round. The Cypriot outfit trail 2-1 after their narrow loss in Lithuania last week.
A first-half brace from Liviu Ion Antal had them trailing 2-0 before an own goal from Joris Moutachy reduced the deficit. However, Juan Carlos Carcedo's side were unable to find the equaliser as they returned home empty-handed.
Pafos are on the cusp of bowing out of the qualifiers in a second European tournament this season, having lost in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. A stunning 8-2 aggregate loss to Swedish side Elfsborg saw them drop here. They could be seeing their European ambitions being crushed altogether this week.
As for Zalgiris, their incredible run of form in the ongoing qualifiers continued, picking up their third consecutive win in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. The Green Whites beat Finland's VPS home and away in the last round to progress with a 3-1 aggregate win, and they hold a 2-1 lead against Pafos.
In the last three years, they have reached the playoffs, progressing to the group stage once: in the 2022-23 season, crashing out in the group stage after winning just once in six games.
Pafos vs Zalgiris Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This is just the second meeting between the two sides.
- Zalgiris have a 100% win record in the European qualifiers this season, beating VPS home and away before overcoming Pafos in the first leg last week.
- Pafos are playing in European qualifiers for the first time; losing both their Europa League qualifiers this season.
- Pafos have conceded 10 goals in three European qualifiers this season, scoring twice.
Pafos vs Zalgiris Prediction
Pafos' first appearance in the European qualifiers hasn't been what they might have expected, losing all three games. They need a special performance to overturn their deficit, but Zalgiris are no pushovers, with the Lithuanian side on a roll, so another win for them is on the cards.
Prediction: Pafos 0-2 Zalgiris
Pafos vs Zalgiris Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Zalgiris
Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Under 2.5
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: No
