Pafos vs Villarreal prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-11-04 17:45.
[p]UEFA Champions League (UCL) debutants Pafos are still searching for their first win of the league phase, but sit a point clear of more experienced visitors Villarreal.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Pafos may be yet to open their UCL account, but goalless draws with Olympiacos and Kairat Almaty have shown that they can compete at Europe’s top table. Juan Carlos Carcedo’s men are looking to become the first Cypriot side to win a UCL group/league phase game since November 2011, but find themselves in the midst of a four-match winless run in major European competition (D2, L2). Playing away from their usual home at the neutral Alphamega Stadium, Pafos may struggle to orchestrate a turnaround here having won just one of their four UCL games as the designated home side this season (D2, L1).[/p]
[p]While they may be flying high domestically, sitting inside La Liga’s top three after thrashing Rayo Vallecano 4-0 at the weekend, Villarreal have struggled to hit top form in the UCL. Their three-game winless start (D1, L2) includes defeats to nil against Tottenham and Manchester City, forming part of a wider slump that’s seen the Yellow Submarine win just three of their last 18 UCL group/league phase matches (D4, L11). Marcelino’s men will be favourites to add to that tally here, and they can take confidence from winning three of their last four away games across all competitions (L1).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Pafos have never previously faced a Spanish side, while Villarreal won both of their prior H2Hs against Cypriot teams when beating Apollon Limassol by a 6-0 aggregate scoreline in the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League. This will be the first UCL tie between a Cypriot and Spanish side since November 2017.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Pafos have kept five clean sheets in their last eight European games.[/p]
[p]Pafos faced a competition-high 66 shots after three rounds.[/p]
[p]None of Villarreal’s last four games saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Just one of Villarreal’s last 35 European games finished goalless.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Domingos Quina has netted four times in his last six games, with all four strikes arriving before the hour mark. Gerard Moreno has returned from injury in style by scoring twice in his last two games – he was involved in five goals in seven matches in Villarreal’s last UCL campaign in 2021/22 (G2, A3).[/p]
[p]Ivan Šunjić has missed Pafos’ last two games through injury, while Villarreal don’t appear to have any fresh concerns.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With vastly more European experience on their side, backing Villarreal to win here should pay off.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]