Pafos FC of Cyprus and Norway’s Bodø/Glimt will make their Champions League group-stage debuts this season after advancing through the qualifying play-offs. The Cypriot side, founded 11 years ago, clinched a 3-2 aggregate victory over Red Star Belgrade thanks to a late 1-1 draw in the return leg.
Bodø/Glimt also earned their spot with a 6-2 aggregate win over Sturm Graz, despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg in Austria.
The two teams will join Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, who stunned Celtic on penalties, and Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time.
Pafos began their continental journey in the second qualifying round on 22 July, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv en route to the playoff round. In the playoff second leg, they carried a 2-1 lead from the first leg and were level on the night until Brazilian winger Jaja struck an 89th-minute equaliser after Mirko Ivanic had put Red Star Belgrade ahead.
The Cypriot champions, who recently signed 38-year-old former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz, will become only the third Cypriot club to feature in the Champions League, following Apoel and Anorthosis Famagusta.
Context and value added
– This marks a historic milestone for Cypriot football, highlighting the rapid rise of clubs from smaller leagues on Europe’s biggest stage.
– David Luiz’s arrival at Pafos brings a wealth of experience and leadership that could aid the club’s ambitions in Europe and domestically.
– Bodø/Glimt’s continued progress reinforces the strength of Nordic clubs in European competition and signals the potential depth of their squad beyond domestic success.
– The qualification adds to the narrative of growing parity in European football, where clubs from leagues outside the traditional powerhouses are increasingly competing in the group stages.
What this means
– The champions of Cyprus entering the Champions League group stage alongside teams like Kairat and Union SG illustrates how investment, long-term planning, and smart recruitment can propel smaller markets onto the continental stage.
– For Pafos, the milestone could boost fan engagement, attract further sponsorship, and spur development of local youth pathways as they test themselves against Europe’s elite.
Summary of key points
– Pafos and Bodø/Glimt reach the Champions League group phase.
– Pafos secured a 3-2 aggregate win over Red Star Belgrade, with Jaja’s late equaliser sealing the tie.
– Bodø/Glimt finished 6-2 on aggregate against Sturm Graz.
– Kairat Almaty and Union Saint-Gilloise are the other new entrants joining the group stage.
– David Luiz joins Pafos, adding experience to the Cypriot club’s European campaign.
Positive outlook
– The success stories of Pafos and Bodø/Glimt can inspire clubs in smaller leagues to invest in development and scouting, potentially widening the competitive landscape in European football and offering fans fresh, exciting matchups in the group stages.