Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Pafos: UEFA Champions League Prediction (31.07.2025)

On July 31, 2025, at 01:00 WIB, the second leg of the UEFA Champions League qualification quarterfinal between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Pafos will take place. The first leg ended in a draw, so everything will be decided in this upcoming clash. Bookmakers consider the home team the favorites. Let’s analyze the current form of both sides and give our prediction for the match.

Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Israeli champions are struggling to find their rhythm in the new season. On July 13, they played in the domestic Super Cup but failed to win the title, losing 1–2 to Hapoel Be’er Sheva. The team also faced difficulties in the first leg against Pafos. Despite dominating possession with 61% and having the overall upper hand, Maccabi barely avoided defeat. They equalized only during added time — and only because the referee allowed a substantial amount of stoppage time, with the goal coming in the 90+10th minute. While Maccabi clearly had the upper hand in terms of control, the Tel Aviv side lacked sharpness in attack.

Pafos

The Cypriot champions also started their campaign from the second qualification round, marking their first official matches of the season. However, bookmakers believe that the club with the most “pompous” name in this European competition has a slim chance of reaching the Champions League qualifying semifinals. The odds for them to progress are 2.90 compared to Maccabi’s 1.40. Yet in the first leg, Pafos showed they could be competitive and are capable of repeating such a performance even as underdogs.

Pafos has some European experience. Last season, they reached the playoffs of the Conference League, advancing to the round of 16. They also placed 12th overall in the main stage. The Cypriot side has shown they are not afraid of away matches — for instance, last season they almost secured points in Florence in a 2–3 loss to Fiorentina.

Stats and Head-to-Head Record

The two teams met for the first time last week. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.

Prediction

For the Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Pafos match, we’re siding with the underdog. Maccabi will play this match on neutral ground. Additionally, the Cypriot team has been showing decent form lately, while Maccabi is still struggling to get going. Given these circumstances, we suggest betting on Pafos not to lose, with odds of 1.88.