Can Pafos upset the odds in Italy against Juventus?

Can Pafos cause one of the greatest upsets ever seen in UEFA Champions League history when they travel from Cyprus to Italy to face Juventus for the first time?

Shocks aren’t new to the Champions League

European minnows Sheriff Tiraspol showcased absolutely no fear as they beat the eventual winners of that season’s competition, Real Madrid, 2-1 away at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Going all the way back to the 2012/13 campaign for another unpredictable result in the competition, Celtic triumphed over the five-time winners of the tournament, Barcelona, 2-1.

That’s not all in terms of Champions League surprises, folks, as Young Boys beat the mighty Manchester United 2-1 in the group stage of the 2021/22 competition.

So, it is that much of an unpredictable thought to think that Pafos could accomplish the unthinkable, and celebrate a win over Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.

Pafos’ satisfactory journey across Europe this season

Reigning and defending Cypriot First Division champions Pafos certainly haven’t been shown up on the European front so far throughout the 2025/26 Champions League phase.

Juan Carlos Carcedo’s men have only won one of their five matches, but have equally ended up on the losing side just once. The Light Brigade have drawn three games, leaving them just inside the play-off positions.

Not to mention, they are ahead of eight-time LaLiga winners Athletic Bilbao, the defeated 2023/24 Europa League finalists Eintracht Frankfurt and four-time winners of the competition Ajax.

There has never been a head-to-head encounter between Pafos and Juventus, so we cannot refer back to previous meetings between the two.

However, have a quick look at the current 2025/26 Champions League phase standings. The two-time Champions League winners, however, have an identical record as Pafos in this season’s league phase (W1, D3, L1) and also a points tally of just six, making the visitors’ encounter at the Allianz even more interesting.

Luciano Spalletti’s side have only beaten Bodø/Glimt this year, drawing with Sporting, Villarreal and Borussia Dortmund, while losing to Real Madrid, which certainly isn’t the worst result in the world.

The Juventus’ manager lack of form has led to analysis from former Italian FIFA World Cup winner, Giuseppe Bergomi, who notes key difference between Conte and Spalletti, after their 2-1 defeat at Napoli on Sunday.

Only established in June 2014, Pafos are making their first-ever appearance in a major European competition. They celebrated an iconic moment in the club’s history at the start of November when they beat Villarreal 1-0 at the Stelios Kyriakides Stadium.

However, with the greatest respect to Villarreal, Juventus are an entirely different footballing animal when it comes to the Champions League.

Pafos’ players possess the ability to beat Juventus

Pafos have some very familiar names within their playing ranks, with former Champions League and Premier League winner David Luiz marshalling their defence.

With the plethora of silverware already sitting in the experienced centre-back’s personal trophy cabinet, Pafos probably aren’t going to win the Champions League this season. However, it’s not completely impossible to make a statement such as Luiz potentially leading his side into at least the play-off round.

Other players available to manager Carcedo include experienced Croatian winger Mislav Oršić, who played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and former Watford midfielder Ken Sema.

Although they are undefeated in seven matches (W5, D2), Pafos have to overcome the daunting prospect of attempting to become the first Cypriot team to defeat Juventus after six previous failed attempts.