Pafos FC suffers 3-1 defeat against Atalanta in Conference League opener

Pafos FC began their Conference League League Phase campaign with a 3-1 away defeat to Atalanta in Bergamo on October 15, 2026. The Italian side took an early lead within the first minute through Elmas, followed by a 18th-minute penalty from Raspadori. Scamacca extended the lead to 3-0 in the 44th minute. Pafos managed to score a consolation goal in the 88th minute through Biel.

Beyond the result, Pafos faced a personnel setback when David Luiz was forced off in the 38th minute due to a muscle injury. Manager Ricardo Sa Pinto expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, claiming that his team was denied two potential penalties that could have altered the game's momentum. Players like Nikolas Ioannou acknowledged the superior quality of their opponents while noting that the team improved their organization in the second half.

Currently, Pafos sits at 32nd place in the competition standings with no points. The team is now focusing on their upcoming domestic fixture against APOEL, while looking forward to their next European match where they will host Riga, aiming to secure their first points in the tournament.