Dinamo Tirana come into this one as the plucky underdogs, but plucky only gets you so far. They’ve been free-scoring in Europe — three times in their recent five they’ve bagged three or more, and two of those came at home. That’s real firepower, and at Elbasan Arena they’ll fancy themselves to make noise. But here’s the thing: they haven’t started their domestic season yet, so their sharpness is all in the bank from qualifiers. Momentum is a funny beast — it can carry you, but it can also leave you exposed when you meet a side that’s simply a level above.

Paphos, on the other hand, are the settled, battle-hardened outfit. They just dismantled Hajduk Split 4-0 in the Europa League — a statement result that echoes across the continent. That wasn’t a smash-and-grab; it was a controlled demolition. They’ve got European pedigree now, and they’re used to these high-stakes nights. The Cypriot First Division side are no strangers to the big stage, and their recent form reads like a team that believes. When you’ve got that kind of swagger, you travel well. Dinamo’s inconsistency — home wins mixed with wobbles — is exactly the kind of profile that gets punished in a two-legged tie.