Article body analysed
By DAN DAVIS, SPORTS REPORTER Published: 17: 15 AEST, 27 August 2025 | Updated: 19: 15 AEST, 27 August 2025 113 View comments Four Champions League debutants have officially sealed their spots in the draw and could be potential opponents for the six English clubs in the competition. Cypriot side Pafos FC and Norway's Bodo/Glimt will make their first appearances this season after sealing impressive victories through the qualifying play-offs. Pafos, who were founded just 11 years ago, scored an 89th-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with Red Star Belgrade last night, clinching a dramatic 3-2 win on aggregate. Bodo/Glimt made light work of their tie, progressing courtesy of a 6-2 aggregate thumping of Austrian outfit Sturm Graz, despite losing the second leg 2-1. Both clubs will be joined in the prestigious tournament by Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty, who shocked Celtic on penalties, and Belgian giants Union Saint-Gilloise. Celtic's Champions League dreams were dashed over two agonising goalless legs, before they blew their chance by missing three spot-kicks in the decisive shootout, ensuring Kairat became only the second Kazakh side to qualify after Astana in 2015. Pafos FC will make their Champions League debut this season after reaching the league phase Norwegian giants Bodo/Glimt also progressed through the qualifying play-offs Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty defeated Celtic on penalties in a historic, shock result Who do you think will win? Liverpool V Arsenal *18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply Whoever is drawn alongside the minnows faces an arduous 3, 600-mile trip out to central Asia, a gruelling eight-hour flight experienced by Chelsea before they faced Astana on their way to winning the Conference League last season. The Blues played the arduous away fixture in Almaty, in the south of Kazakhstan, instead owing to renovations to the stadium originally down to host. They avoided adapting to the time zone, which is five hours ahead of the UK, and were forced to brave brutal sub-zero temperatures in a 3-1 victory. Pafos, meanwhile, began their Champions League campaign in the second qualifying round in mid-July before beating Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv. Taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg, Jaja scored an equaliser one minute from time to seal their progression, after Mirko Ivanic had given Red Star the lead on the night. The Cypriot champions have become just the third side from the country to reach the Champions League, following in the footsteps of Apoel and Anorthosis Famagusta. Former Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG defender David Luiz is on their books, having joined the club earlier this month after leaving Fortaleza at the start of 2025. His arrival was hailed as a 'landmark' and 'the most historic moment in Cypriot football'. 'David Luiz Moreira Marinho is a true titan of modern football, ' Pafos said. 'For over 15 years, he has competed at the pinnacle of the sport, earning admiration around the globe for his commanding presence, technical brilliance, and unmistakable charisma. ? HISTORY IS MADE - THREE CLUBS secured the Champions League FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! ✅ ? ? Kairat✅ ? ? Bodø/Glimt✅ ? ? Pafos? THREE CLUBS ARE OUT! ❌ ? ?? ?? ?? Celtic❌ ? ? Sturm Graz❌ ? ? Crvena zvezda pic. twitter. com/jg01iqlh RH Kairat held Celtic to two goalless legs before winning on spot-kicks in the home leg Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz plays for the Cypriot side Union Saint-Gilloise are also among the four debutants in the draw this week Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica*, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge* Pot 3: PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting Lisbon, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Marseille Pot 4: Copenhagen*, Monaco, Galatasaray, Qarabag*, Union Saint-Gilloise, Athletic Club, Pafos, Kairat, Newcastle *Qualification to be confirmed tonight 'Throughout his illustrious career, he has left a lasting legacy at every club. ' Elsewhere, Bodo/Glimt, four-time winners of the Eliteserien, became the first Norwegian outfit to reach the tournament proper since Rosenborg in 2007. The club, located 124 miles north of the Arctic Circle, memorably reached the Europa League semi-finals last season, before being knocked out by winners Tottenham. The draw for the league phase of the Champions League will take place on Thursday at 5pm BST in Monaco, and the pots have all but been confirmed. Once again, all 36 competitors will be separated into four pots before playing eight different opponents - four matches at home and four away. The three Premier League sides in Pot 1, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, will each have to play two of PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, a tricky start to the tournament. The first matchday will take place between 16 and 18 September.
Share what you think
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mail Online.
By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on Mail Online. To do this we will link your Mail Online account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd