Paphos Fights Valiantly but Falls to Chelsea, Slim Playoff Chances Remain

Paphos exited London with their heads held high after a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the 7th matchday of the Champions League League Phase. The Cypriot champions managed to trouble the London side, keeping a clean sheet until the 78th minute when Caicedo scored the winning goal. This was Albert Theladas's European debut with Paphos, and the team performed well at Stamford Bridge, largely thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Gorter, who denied Chelsea numerous scoring opportunities. However, Paphos now faces an uphill battle to secure qualification for the intermediate stage. Currently 30th in the standings with 6 points, they need a win against Slavia Prague and a significant combination of results to go their way. According to 'Football Meets Data', Paphos has only a 16% chance of qualifying, which is understandable given recent results. In contrast, Olympiacos boasts a much higher 55% probability of progressing.