Bayern’s first European away game of the season takes them to Cyprus. Vincent Kompany’s men arrive on the back of eight wins from eight in 2025/26 as they prepare to face Champions League debutants Pafos on Tuesday (kick-off at 9pm CEST, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.
Recap all the build-up to the game in Cyprus:
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Having opened the season with silverware in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, Bayern have since gone on to win all five Bundesliga games, their DFB Cup first-round tie and also their first match in the Champions League. It’s a flawless record that gives them plenty of momentum for their clash with supposed underdogs Pafos. “There’s a lot about us right now,” said board member for sport Max Eberl prior to leaving Munich. “We’ve got the energy, we’ve got the drive to want to win games alongside the technical ability we have. Then there’s the togetherness that’s developed over the last 16-18 months. I think the sum of all those points means we’re playing very good football right now.”
However, that role as clear favourites could also be a danger for the free-flowing and free-scoring Bayern. Pafos have nothing to lose in the first competitive encounter between the clubs. “The danger with Pafos is that everyone expects us to win. We want to win there – that goes without saying. But it’s always more complicated playing away, we need to fairly say,” Eberl added. Pafos coach Juan Carlos Carcedo also admitted, “It’s a big dream come true for us to get to play such a big game. Bayern are the most in-form team in Europe at the moment. We know how tough it is, but we’ll try to enjoy it and play our best football.” Kompany himself doesn’t want to hear any talk of underestimating the Cypriot opposition. “It’s a completely normal game for us. It’s the Champions League. There’s always a special feeling, facing every opponent with great respect. As for Pafos, it wasn’t an easy route for them into the Champions League. They’ve played seven games already including qualifiers and not lost any. We know what’s coming our way. But we still have full confidence that we can get all three points. That’s our goal.”
Kane in focus again
Harry Kane will obviously be the centre of attention again at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol, where Pafos play their European fixtures. The Bayern striker stole the show once again in Friday’s 4-0 win over Werder Bremen with a brace. The Englishman now has 100 goals in only 104 games for Bayern, having also hit two in the opening Champions League win over Club World Cup holders Chelsea. He now has 21 goals in just 26 European outings for the Bavarians. “I know his style of play very well because I was assistant at Arsenal and we played against Tottenham a lot,” said Carcedo. “He possesses an incredible range of abilities. One man isn’t enough to stop him. We want to try to be a well-organised team and stop him scoring goals against us.”
It isn’t just about scoring goals for Bayern this season, though. The defence was also very assured against Bremen and the transition play worked to deadly effect. “We have that willingness, that intensity. It’s top. The intensity we play with in every training session is what we want. And doing that in every match gives us a good feeling,” Eberl explained.
Hear more from Eberl ahead of the game:
Opponent: Pafos
It’s the first time ever that Pafos – domestic double winners in Cyprus last season – have qualified for the Champions League. Created as a merger between two clubs in 2014, they have continued to grow in recent years, backed by a Russian businessman. Last season they reached the last 16 of the Conference League, having also lost 1-0 to Heidenheim in the league phase. “It’s a bit like the Club World Cup. You’re playing against teams that you don’t face often, where you have to learn about them and don’t have much information beforehand,” Kompany explained. “We’ve done all that now. We also saw at the Club World Cup what role emotions can play. That’ll be an important factor as well tomorrow.”
However, it’s not just about enjoying the Champions League anthem. Pafos want to cause an upset, like they did in their opening match by holding Greek giants Olympiacos to a goalless draw. “We want to be brave at home. We press sometimes and get our chances at counters. We also work well at set pieces. Obviously a lot is down to the chances that Bayern allow us. But why shouldn’t we have a perfect day and maybe get a point or even more?” Carcedo poignantly asked. The Spaniard took over Pafos in 2023 after arriving from Real Zaragoza. He previously worked as assistant under Unai Emery at Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
“They’ve got good tempo going forward, are dangerous in transition,” Kompany pointed out. “They’re good defensively but also have structure in attack. It’s a good mix of short balls but also long ones, aggressively going for the second balls and trying to find space on the wings. But we’re prepared for that. We’re used to playing against teams who think up ways to try and beat us. But we also do that. The public can underestimate Pafos, but we won’t.”
Star man Luiz
The biggest name in the Pafos team is that of David Luiz, who was part of the Chelsea side that beat Bayern in the 2012 Champions League final. The 57-time Brazil international joined on a free from Fortaleza in the summer and is back in the squad to face Bayern after injury. The defending champions are tied on points with three other teams at the top of the Cypriot First Division table after four games. Pafos also have right-back Ognjen Mimović on loan from Fenerbahce, but he’s ineligible to play in the Champions League. Striker Landry Dimata has just arrived from Belgian football and joins Anderson Silva (17 goals last season) and also dangerous defender Vlad Dragomir (nine goals).
“We’re the Cinderella of the Champions League. There’s probably nobody supporting us, and it might look like we’re easy to beat. Bayern are among the best teams in Europe right now, but we won’t give up on the game. This will be a historic night for the whole town and we just want to enjoy it,” Carcedo said.
Konrad Laimer isn’t in Cyprus to enjoy it. He wants to win with Bayern. “We’ve completely prepared for the opposition, looked at how they play in every phase. They’re a good team with good principles. When they have time and space, they can hurt you at any time. We need to perform at all times. It’s the Champions League.”
Thorsten Fink previously coached in Cyprus and has spoken about Bayern’s opponents:
Team news
Alphonso Davies (cruciate ligament), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal) and Jamal Musiala (broken leg and ankle) are all still out of action. Josip Stanišić (medial ligament) and Jonas Urbig (hamstring) took their first tentative steps back out on the pitch on Monday.
Bruno Felipe is the only player missing for Pafos after his red card against Olympiacos.
Read up on the pre-match facts:
What the coaches say
„The public can underestimate Pafos, but we won’t.”
Vincent Kompany
„Bayern are among the best teams in Europe right now, but we won’t give up on the game.”
Juan Carlos Carcedo (Pafos)
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