Pafos FC faces Salzburg in crucial Europa League qualifier

Pafos FC hosts Austrian side RB Salzburg at the Alphamega Stadium tonight, August 13, 2026, at 20:00, in the second leg of the Europa League third qualifying round. The Cypriot team, led by coach Ricardo Sa Pinto, seeks to overturn a 0-1 deficit from the first leg in Austria, where they conceded a late goal in the 88th minute. The match is critical for the hosts, who aim to secure their eighth consecutive European qualifying progression, having previously successfully overturned results in similar high-stakes scenarios.

Manager Sa Pinto faces personnel challenges, as Kina is ruled out with an Achilles injury and Sema is suspended following a red card in the first leg. Additionally, Correia is ineligible due to roster restrictions. However, the squad is bolstered by the availability of Brito and Bruno, while Maes and Anderson remain under consideration for potential play. The team lineup includes Ivusic, Bruno, Goldar, Luiz, Ioannou, Pepe, Sunjic, Dragomir, Guga, Biel, and Lelo.

The winner of this encounter will advance to the Europa League play-offs to face the Swedish champions, Mjallby. Should Pafos FC fail to secure the aggregate victory, they will be relegated to the Europa Conference League play-offs to face the winner of the Auda versus Dinamo City tie.