Pafos vs CFR Cluj

In this week's second leg of their Europa Conference League Playoff match, Paphos FC will host CFR Cluj. Cluj prevailed just 1-0 at home in the first game, but they now have to contend with a Paphos team that has overcome one-goal deficits in previous home games to advance to the next round. Will the home team win based on our forecast, or will the Ceferistii be able to maintain their lead from the first leg?

This season's Paphos European form is quite easy to read. They were defeated 8-3 overall by Swedish team Elfsborg in their two Europa League matches. And in Conference League qualifying, they have dropped all three of their away legs. 2-1 away against Zalgiris, CSKA 1948 Sofia, and Cluj last week.

However, the Cypriot team has excelled at home, at least in the Conference League. They advanced from that match by defeating Zalgiris 3-0, and they even outperformed them in the last round, winning 4-0 against CSKA 1948 Sofia. There are two outcomes that CFR Cluj will undoubtedly be aware of.

Having played five Conference League games (winning four, drawing one), CFR Cluj will be put to the test the most out of the two teams as they have not let up a goal in this tournament. They have also participated in six domestic league games, going 3–2 in wins, 2–2 in losses, and 1–1 in draws.

They advanced to this stage by defeating Neman Grodno 5-0 on aggregate (all goals coming from Cluj in the away match). They then triumphed 2-0 on aggregate over Maccabi Petah-Tikva of Israel, winning 1-0 in both legs.

The match last week was the first time the two teams had faced one other.In eight of CFR Cluj's previous nine games in all competitions, at least one team has maintained a clean sheet.This season, Pafos is participating in its first UEFA club competition.

Cluj has won its last five matches in all competitions, scoring nine goals while maintaining a spotless record.In six of Pafos' seven games so far this season, three goals or more have been scored.This season, Pafos has played five Conference League qualifiers; four of those games have ended in a one-goal victory.

Paphos has a history of overturning one-goal deficits in the home leg, even though Cluj has a slim lead from the first leg in Romania. Without giving up a goal at home, they have accomplished that twice in the last two Conference League games. Nothing in the data suggests that the Cypriot team won't succeed in their goal of winning again on home soil, which is something they will be hoping for.