Pafos face Red Star without star man after David Luiz omission

Just a couple of weeks ago, Pafos made headlines in the transfer market by capturing the signing of David Luiz, a player who, despite being towards the latter stages of his career, still commands a significant profile. After spells at Chelsea and PSG in Europe, he concluded his time there with stints at Flamengo and Fortaleza before accepting this challenge with the Cypriot club. The most enticing prospect was the possibility of playing European football once again.

Progression in the Champions League hinges on navigating this round against a formidable Red Star Belgrade, who will have home advantage for the first leg. However, Pafos will be without their high-profile acquisition. Hristoforos Mateu, a spokesperson for the club, confirmed this: "There have been no changes to the list. As things stand, David Luiz will not be registered for these matches, but his debut will not be delayed."

The Brazilian arrived carrying a knock, but he is gradually resuming full training, meaning his first appearance in a Pafos shirt could be imminent. The club, as acknowledged by Mateu himself, recognises they are underdogs in this tie: "We have no pressure, but we travel to Serbia with optimism. We will play in a packed stadium. We hope to secure a positive result to give us a chance in the next round at home. We need a perfect performance."

This Pafos side has already overcome two previous rounds, eliminating both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv, teams with considerably more European experience. They are seeking their maiden qualification for the Champions League, ironically without the services of their only former Champions League winner in the squad, David Luiz.