Overview
- The group-stage match kicks off tonight at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol because Pafos’ home ground is not UEFA-approved.
- Pafos are in their first Champions League campaign after a rapid rise fueled by investors Sergej Lomakin and Roman Dubov, whose backgrounds have drawn scrutiny including reports that Lomakin’s Cypriot citizenship was revoked.
- Pafos coach Juan Carlos Carcedo confirmed that 38-year-old defender David Luiz is available for selection against Bayern.
- Bayern arrive after a 3–1 win over Chelsea as Kompany targets a six-point start, with Manuel Neuer noting he has studied Pafos’ draw at Olympiakos and Thorsten Fink predicting a heated atmosphere.
- The resource gap is stark, with Pafos’ squad valued at about €25.4 million versus Bayern’s reported €905 million.