Match report

Chelsea Defeats Pafos 1-0 in UEFA Champions League

Chelsea
Chelsea
1–0
FT
Pafos
Pafos
Jan 21, 2026

Chelsea narrowly defeated Pafos by a single goal in their UEFA Champions League match. Despite controlling much of the play, Chelsea struggled to break through until M. Caicedo's decisive strike late in the game. Key substitutions and player rotations helped maintain pressure on Pafos, who fought hard but ultimately fell short.

Key Facts

  • • Final score: Chelsea 1–0 Pafos
  • • Goal scorer: M. Caicedo (78') for Chelsea
  • • Yellow Cards: M. Orsic (33', time wasting), K. Sema (56', foul) and Ivan Šunjić (78', argument) for Pafos; J. Gittens (73', foul) and E. Fernandez (86', time wasting) for Chelsea
  • • Substitutions: F. Jorgensen, R. James, J. Hato, A. Garnacho, L. Delap for Chelsea; Jaja, Anderson Silva, M. Orsic, K. Sema, V. Dragomir for Pafos

Lineups

Chelsea

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 12 F. Jorgensen (G)
  • 27 M. Gusto (D)
  • 29 W. Fofana (D)
  • 5 B. Badiashile (D)
  • 21 J. Hato (D)
  • 24 R. James (M)
  • 25 M. Caicedo (M)
  • 7 P. Neto (M)
  • 8 E. Fernandez (M)
  • 49 A. Garnacho (M)
  • 9 L. Delap (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 R. Sanchez
  • 3 M. Cucurella
  • 11 J. Gittens
  • 17 Andrey Santos
  • 20 Joao Pedro
  • 23 T. Chalobah
  • 32 T. George
  • 34 J. Acheampong
  • 38 M. Guiu
  • 41 Estêvão
  • 46 R. Walsh
  • 56 L. Emenalo

Pafos

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 J. Gorter (G)
  • 23 D. Luckassen (D)
  • 26 I. Sunjic (D)
  • 2 K. Pileas (D)
  • 7 Bruno (M)
  • 30 V. Dragomir (M)
  • 88 Pepe (M)
  • 12 K. Sema (M)
  • 17 M. Orsic (F)
  • 11 Jaja (F)
  • 33 Anderson Silva (F)

Substitutes

  • 82 P. Petrou
  • 93 N. Michail
  • 4 David Luiz
  • 5 D. Goldar
  • 8 D. Quina
  • 9 M. Bassouamina
  • 10 L. Dimata
  • 25 B. Langa
  • 42 G. Michael
  • 87 Fontoura Joao

Timeline

  1. Pafos
    33' Pafos Card · Yellow Card
    M. Orsic

    Time wasting

  2. Chelsea
    46' Chelsea subst · Substitution 1
    Off: F. Jorgensen · On: R. Sanchez
  3. Chelsea
    46' Chelsea subst · Substitution 2
    Off: R. James · On: Estêvão
  4. Pafos
    56' Pafos Card · Yellow Card
    K. Sema

    Foul

  5. Pafos
    65' Pafos subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Jaja · On: D. Quina
  6. Pafos
    65' Pafos subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Anderson Silva · On: L. Dimata
  7. Chelsea
    70' Chelsea subst · Substitution 3
    Off: J. Hato · On: M. Cucurella
  8. Chelsea
    70' Chelsea subst · Substitution 4
    Off: A. Garnacho · On: J. Gittens
  9. Chelsea
    70' Chelsea subst · Substitution 5
    Off: L. Delap · On: João Pedro
  10. Chelsea
    73' Chelsea Card · Yellow Card
    J. Gittens

    Foul

  11. Pafos
    78' Pafos Card · Yellow Card
    Ivan Šunjić

    Argument

  12. Chelsea
    78' Chelsea Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Caicedo
  13. Pafos
    83' Pafos subst · Substitution 3
    Off: M. Orsic · On: M. Bassouamina
  14. Pafos
    83' Pafos subst · Substitution 4
    Off: K. Sema · On: B. Langa
  15. Chelsea
    86' Chelsea Card · Yellow Card
    E. Fernandez

    Time wasting

  16. Pafos
    89' Pafos subst · Substitution 5
    Off: V. Dragomir · On: G. Michael

Match Stats

Stat Chelsea Pafos
Fouls 6 10
Pass Accuracy 95% 80%
Offsides — —
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 21 4
Corners 15 2
Total Passes 746 306
Yellow Cards 2 3
Blocked Shots 7 2
Shots on Target 7 2
xG 1.85 0.14
Shots off Target 7 0
Possession 71% 29%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 705 246
Shots Inside Box 11 3
Saves 2 6
Shots Outside Box 10 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Chelsea's early dominance set the tone but was stymied by Pafos' resilient defense until the late goal by M. Caicedo.
  • ▸ The yellow card to Ivan Šunjić in the 78th minute for argument may have shifted momentum towards Chelsea, leading directly into their match-winning goal.