Chelsea 1-0 Pafos: Caicedo breaks Cypriots´ resistance at Stamford Bridge

Moises Caicedo’s header guided Chelsea to a hard-earned 1-0 victory over a stubborn Pafos side in the Champions League, boosting their hopes of a top-eight finish.

It looked as though Liam Rosenior’s first taste of Europe’s premier club competition would be a sour one, as Pafos stood firm for 78 minutes.

But when Pedro Neto’s in-swinging corner from the right was flicked on by Wesley Fofana, Caicedo stole a march on the well-drilled Pafos defence to head into the left side of the goal.

Chelsea had previously put the ball in the net just 17 minutes in, but Enzo Fernandez’s header – from another Neto corner – was chalked off after the Argentine was deemed to have committed a foul in the build-up.

Pafos spent long periods crowding their own penalty area, but one rare foray forward saw Jaja fire against the post, and the visitors’ claims that the ball rebounded onto Reece James’ arm fell on deaf ears.

Jorrel Hato also worked Jay Gorter, as did Caicedo on two occasions, while a tremendous last-ditch challenge from Bruno Felipe kept Alejandro Garnacho at bay.

But the minnows were ultimately caught out from a set-piece, leaving them two points adrift of the play-off cut-off, but with a winnable game at home to Slavia Prague to come.

Chelsea are eighth and currently on course for automatic progression to the last 16, but there are five teams – including Barcelona and Manchester City – behind them on goal difference and their final match is a daunting trip to Napoli next Wednesday.

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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 21, 2026

Data Debrief: Fourth time lucky for Caicedo

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again. Caicedo had four of Chelsea’s seven shots on target throughout this match – the most he has ever had in a single game for the Blues – and he was rewarded at the fourth time of asking.

Coming into Wednesday’s game, Pafos had faced the most shots of any team in this season’s Champions League (123), yet their nine goals conceded were the fewest of any team in the bottom 12 of the standings.

And they showed why, with the impressive Gorter making six saves and Chelsea being limited to a respectable 1.68 expected goals (xG) despite firing off 21 shots. Pafos were unable to generate much of a threat going the other way, though, finishing with four shots and 0.15 xG.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in 15 home Champions League group or league-stage games (11 wins, four draws), winning their last six in a row.