Dyn. Kyiv (Ukr) vs Pafos (Cyp) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-08-04 18:00.
[p]Both Dynamo Kyiv and Pafos are assured of a spot in the league phase of one of UEFA’s three European competitions this season, but this third qualifying round tie will end one side’s hopes of that being the UEFA Champions League (UCL). [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Dynamo Kyiv made light work of Maltese minnows Ħamrun Spartans to reach this stage, winning 6-0 across two legs, in what was the second-biggest winning margin across the UCL second round qualifying ties. There was no respite for them after that as they opened their Ukrainian Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Veres Rivne on Saturday, but with three clean-sheet victories in a row, confidence should be high. Dynamo’s record in third round UCL qualifiers should only serve to boost their belief too having won their last three ties at this stage, so they’re unlikely to be fazed by playing this game on neutral territory in Poland amid the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. [/p]
[p]While their Ukrainian opponents are steeped in history on the continent, Pafos certainly aren’t, with the plucky underdogs only appearing in major European competition for the first time ever last season. Their run to the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League caught the eye last term, as did their recent 2-1 aggregate victory over Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UCL second qualifying round. Their ‘away’ leg in that tie was also held on neutral ground (Serbia) and Pafos came away with a 1-0 victory, though that serves as their only ever victory as the away side in a European qualifier (L4). [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This will be a first-ever H2H between these two sides. Dynamo have only ever faced Cypriot opposition in the form of AEK Larnaca before and won neither game (D1, L1), while Pafos have never previously faced an opponent from Ukraine. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Only two of Dynamo’s last ten European games saw both teams score. [/p]
[p]Dynamo have scored before half-time in their three competitive games this season. [/p]
[p]Pafos have scored in nine of their last ten European games.[/p]
[p]Pafos’ last six competitive matches saw under 2.5 goals. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Dynamo’s Mykola Shaparenko has started the season in fine fashion, contributing to a goal in each of their three competitive games (G1, A2), assisting in both UCL second-round qualifiers. Jajá was Pafos’ hero in the second round with what was only his second goal from his last eight games at club level to arrive before half-time. [/p]
[p]Denys Popov limped off at the weekend for Dynamo and could be rested here, while Pafos have no known injury doubts.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With the tie unlikely to be decided after the first leg, this could be a rather cagey game and backing under 2.5 goals could be a profitable route to take. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]