Pafos first up for the Nerazzurri | UECL League Phase MD1

Atalanta’s UEFA Conference League campaign will get under way in Bergamo on Thursday 15 October with a first-ever meeting against Cypriot side Pafos FC. A relatively young club, founded in 2014 following the merger of AEK Kouklion and Pafos FC 2000, Pafos have quickly risen to the top of Cypriot football, winning the league title in 2024/25 before making their historic UEFA Champions League debut last season. Their trophy cabinet also includes two domestic cups and a Cypriot Super Cup, all won over the past two years.

After a positive Champions League campaign, which saw them collect nine points and finish 26th in the League Phase on goal difference, the Cypriot side return to the European stage this season. Their initial bid to reach the Europa League ended in the third qualifying round against Salzburg, before Pafos secured a place in the Conference League Phase by overcoming Albanian side Dinamo City in the play-offs (1-1 away and a 4-2 extra-time win in the return leg). They subsequently entered the draw among the second-seeded teams.

The team are coached by Portuguese manager Ricardo Sá Pinto. In the current Cypriot league campaign, Pafos sit fourth with ten points from their opening five matches following the 3-1 away win at Anorthōsīs Famagusta.