Pafos FC 2-2 Monaco: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Pafos FC 2-2 Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Monaco struck first in this Europa League clash, with T. Minamino finding the net in the 5th minute to give the visitors an early lead. Pafos FC responded well, equalising through David Luiz in the 18th minute, but Monaco regained the advantage when F. Balogun scored in the 26th. The first half saw both sides pushing, with yellow cards issued to Monaco’s L. Camara for a foul in the 21st and A. Golovin in the 28th, while Pafos’ D. Goldar picked up a booking in stoppage time at 45+3’.

The second half brought changes, as Pafos substituted B. Langa for D. Goldar at 46’, followed by further swaps including Jaja for D. Quina at 57’ and M. Bassouamina for Anderson Silva at 69’. Monaco made double substitutions at 65’, with L. Michal replacing A. Golovin and M. Coulibaly coming on for L. Camara, then more at 76’ as T. Kehrer replaced Vanderson and A. Fati took T. Minamino’s place. The match looked set for a Monaco win until an own goal in the 88th minute levelled it for Pafos, with David Luiz earning a yellow shortly after, and Monaco’s M. Salisu booked in stoppage time at 90+1’ before their final sub of M. Biereth for Balogun at 89’.

Possession was evenly split at 48% for Pafos FC and 52% for Monaco, reflecting a balanced contest where neither side dominated the ball, though Monaco’s slight edge helped them create more attacking opportunities, as shown by their 65 successful dribbles compared to Pafos’ 47.

Corners favoured Pafos with 5 against Monaco’s 3, suggesting they generated decent set-piece threats, but discipline was an issue with Pafos picking up 2 yellow cards and Monaco 3, which disrupted flow without leading to any reds.

Substitutions saw Pafos use 4 – including B. Langa on for D. Goldar at 46’ and Jaja replacing D. Quina at 57’ – while Monaco deployed 5, such as the double change at 65’ with L. Michal for A. Golovin and M. Coulibaly for L. Camara, potentially aiding their control but not preventing the late equaliser; assists were level at one each, underlining key individual contributions to the goals.

These stats highlight how Monaco’s better dribbling efficiency contributed to their two-goal lead, but Pafos’ persistence in corners and timely substitutions allowed them to claw back a point, with no penalties or injury-time goals beyond the 88th own goal shifting the dynamic.

The game’s decisive moments came early with Monaco’s T. Minamino opening the scoring in the 5th minute, assisted by M. Akliouche, setting a fast pace that Pafos countered with David Luiz’s 18th-minute goal from M. Orsic’s assist. F.

Balogun’s 26th-minute strike restored Monaco’s lead, but the late own goal in the 88th proved pivotal, rescuing a draw for Pafos amid a flurry of yellow cards like J. Carcedo’s at 55’ for the hosts and M. Salisu’s in stoppage time for the visitors.

Impact substitutions added to the turning points, with Pafos bringing on B. Langa for D. Goldar at half-time to shore up defence after Goldar’s yellow, and Monaco’s 76th-minute switches of T. Kehrer for Vanderson and A. Fati for Minamino, aiming to see out the win, though it wasn’t enough to prevent the equaliser.

Pafos FC lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with David Luiz anchoring the defence and providing an attacking threat as seen in his goal, while partnerships like M. Orsic’s assist work highlighted the midfield’s creative edge.

Monaco deployed a 4-2-3-1 shape, relying on T. Minamino’s early impact in attack and F. Balogun’s finishing, with midfield pairings like M. Akliouche assisting to drive their forward play.

T. Minamino earns Man of the Match for his early 5th-minute goal that set Monaco on course, combining sharp movement with an assist from M. Akliouche to influence the game’s tempo, even as he was substituted off at 76’ for A. Fati.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Draw: 2-2 vs Monaco (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Villarreal (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Kairat (A)
• Loss: 1-5 vs FC Bayern München (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Olympiacos F.C. (A)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Draw: 2-2 vs Pafos FC (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Bodø / Glimt (A)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Tottenham Hotspur (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Manchester City (H)
• Loss: 1-4 vs Club Brugge (A)

Pafos FC will take heart from this resilient 2-2 draw against strong opposition like Monaco, showing they can compete at this level with late fightbacks, and they’ll aim to carry that momentum into their next fixture.

Monaco might rue dropping points after leading twice, but the result keeps them in contention, and they’ll look to tighten up defensively for their upcoming match to secure a win.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.