The European spotlight returns to Stamford Bridge this evening as Chelsea host Cypriot champions Pafos.
This fixture holds significant weight for both clubs’ knockout-stage aspirations. Liam Rosenior is set for a historic night as he makes his Champions League debut.
It continues a whirlwind start, with four competitions in less than a fortnight.
Chelsea enter this penultimate league-phase tie sitting in 13th place. They remain just two points shy of the automatic round-of-16 qualification spots.
Conversely, Pafos occupy 26th and are desperate to secure a positive result. They must keep their play-off hopes alive during their maiden European venture.
Chelsea vs Pafos – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
- Referee: Erik Lambrechts
- VAR: Carlos del Cerro Grande
- Last Meeting: First competitive meeting
Team News
Chelsea
The Blues have been grappling with a squad-wide illness, with Enzo Fernández the latest to be affected; the midfielder missed training earlier this week and faces a late call on his availability.
However, Rosenior confirmed that Jamie Gittens, Estêvão Willian, and Malo Gusto have all returned to training and should be in contention.
On the injury front, defender Tosin Adarabioyo is ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring issue sustained against Brentford.
Levi Colwill and Roméo Lavia remain sidelined, while Mykhaylo Mudryk continues to serve a doping suspension.
Pafos
A major storyline for the visitors is the potential homecoming of David Luiz, who famously won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012.
The veteran defender faces a late fitness test after picking up a knock at the weekend. The Cypriot side will likely be without David Goldar and João Correia, who are both struggling with injuries.
Form
Chelsea
Chelsea boast a formidable home record ahead of this fixture. They remain unbeaten in their last 17 home games at this stage.
Liam Rosenior enjoyed a positive start to his Premier League tenure. His side secured a solid 2–0 victory over Brentford this weekend.
Notably, the Blues field the competition’s youngest average starting XI.
They also possess a 21-game scoring streak in European matches. Individual history is on the line for Estêvão tonight. He could match Kylian Mbappé by scoring in his first four starts.
Pafos
Pafos face a significant challenge historically, as Cypriot clubs have won only one of their 21 meetings with English sides in all competitions.
The visitors arrive in London sitting 26th in the league phase table, but they can take heart from a resilient defensive record; only Benfica have conceded fewer goals than Pafos (9) among teams in the bottom half of the table, despite the Cypriot side facing a tournament-high 123 shots.
However, travelling woes persist, as they have yet to score an away goal in the Champions League this season, recording two draws and a defeat on the road so far.
In the dugout, Sofyane Cherfa is tasked with navigating this “A Tale of Two Ages” clash against the competition’s youngest side.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea Predicted XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Gittens, Pedro, Estevao; Delap
Pafos Predicted XI: Gorter; Bruno, Luckassen, Langa, Pileas; Pêpê, Šunjić, Quina; Dragomir, Silva, Oršić
How to Watch Chelsea vs Pafos?
In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3, with coverage starting at 19:00 GMT ahead of the 20:00 kick-off.
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