Pafos FC defeated by Atalanta in Conference League opener

Pafos FC suffered a 3-1 defeat against Atalanta in their opening match of the UEFA Conference League League Phase held at the Stadio di Bergamo on October 15, 2026. The Italian side dominated the first half, opening the scoring just 46 seconds into the match through Elmas. Atalanta doubled their lead in the 18th minute with a Raspadori penalty following a foul by Bruno on Zalewski, while Scamacca added a third goal before halftime. Biel scored a late consolation goal for the Cypriot side in the 88th minute.

Manager Ricardo Sa Pinto attributed the loss to Atalanta's superior quality and criticized the officiating, claiming two penalties were denied to his team. The match saw a concerning injury to Pafos defender David Luiz, whose status for the upcoming league derby against APOEL remains uncertain pending medical evaluation. Players like Nikolas Ioannou acknowledged the defensive lapses and the tactical superiority of the opponent. Following this result, Pafos currently sits in 32nd place in the league table. The team is now focusing on their domestic league commitments and their next European match against Riga.