Mansion Sports – Pafos FC made history by earning their first-ever victory in the UEFA Champions League, defeating Villarreal 1-0 on Matchday 4 of the 2025/2026 league phase at the Alphamega Stadium.

The decisive goal came from Derrick Luckassen early in the second half through a perfectly executed set-piece. 

Villarreal, who were more dominant in the opening stages and created two clear chances, paid the price for their wastefulness in front of goal. 

Pafos, meanwhile, remained disciplined throughout and struck decisively from a corner to claim a famous win.

This result lifts Pafos to 19th place in the league phase standings, keeping alive their hopes of advancing to the play-off round. 

Villarreal, on the other hand, continue to struggle at the bottom, sitting 32nd without a single victory after four matches.

First Half: Villarreal Dominate as Pafos Defend Stoutly

The match began at a high tempo, with Villarreal immediately taking control and creating early danger. 

Ayoze Perez delivered a low cross into the box, but Mikautadze, unmarked, failed to make proper contact with the ball—a golden opportunity that went begging for the visitors.

Moments later, Villarreal came close again through Dani Parejo’s incisive through ball to Gueye, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, Michael reacted brilliantly with a quick reflex save to keep Pafos level.

Villarreal continued to dominate possession, dictating play in midfield while Pafos sat back, waiting for a chance to counterattack. 

The home side’s best opportunity came from Quina, whose curling shot narrowly missed the top corner.

As the half progressed, Pafos tightened their defensive organization. Sema stood out in cutting off Villarreal’s supply from the flanks, making it difficult for Pepe and Moleiro to find space or deliver decisive passes.

Toward the end of the first half, Villarreal maintained control but failed to make their dominance count. Ayoze Perez once again threatened with a header, though Michael comfortably handled it. The first half concluded goalless, with the visitors frustrated by Pafos’s disciplined defensive structure.

Second Half: Luckassen’s Header Seals a Famous Win for Pafos

The second half began with an immediate twist. Within just a minute of the restart, Pafos earned their first corner of the match. 

Sema swung in an accurate cross toward the penalty area, and Derrick Luckassen, left unmarked, rose highest to head the ball powerfully into the net. Pafos took a stunning 1-0 lead, sparking celebrations across the stadium.

The goal shifted the momentum entirely. Pafos grew in confidence, showing greater composure in possession, while Villarreal urgently pushed forward in search of an equalizer. 

Coach Marcelino responded with attacking substitutions, introducing Solomon, Comesana, and Gerard Moreno to add creativity and firepower.

Despite the changes, Villarreal found it difficult to break down Pafos’s compact defense. Their attacks repeatedly broke down in the final third, with the Cypriot side maintaining remarkable discipline and defensive focus.

In the final 20 minutes, Villarreal intensified their efforts. Pepe unleashed a dangerous diagonal strike that seemed destined for the corner, but Michael once again came to Pafos’s rescue with a vital save. 

The hosts then opted to drop deeper, reinforcing their defensive line to protect the narrow advantage.

Late in the match, Villarreal thought they had equalized when Oluwaseyi found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up. 

Pafos held firm until the final whistle, sealing a historic victory on one of the club’s most memorable nights in European competition.

Match Statistics: Pafos FC vs Villarreal

Pafos’s resilience and tactical discipline were key to their triumph, with Luckassen’s decisive header standing as a defining moment in the club’s Champions League history.