Bodo/Glimt and Pafos each earned improbable draws away from home in their first Champions League matches on Wednesday.

Two of this year's European Cup debutants were in action at the same time in Wednesday's early games, playing perhaps two of their kinder fixtures, with Bodo visiting Slavia Prague as Pafos faced Olympiacos.

Bodo have greater European pedigree than Pafos, having reached last season's Europa League semi-finals, but their introduction to the Champions League threatened to be a brutal one.

Slavia left-back Youssoupha Mbodji scored in either half to give the home side a 2-0 lead, his second goal coming with just 16 minutes to play.

But Bodo, who had earlier squandered a penalty as Kasper Hogh's effort was saved, staged a remarkable recovery in the closing stages to draw 2-2.

Daniel Bassi quickly pulled a goal back, before fellow substitute Sondre Fet equalised in the final minute of normal time with an outrageous volley that crashed in off the crossbar.

Bodo had to cling on through just over 11 minutes of stoppage time, with goalkeeper Nikita Haikin in inspired form, but could celebrate a famous result.

There was not the same level of drama in Greece but no less significance as 10-man Pafos saw out a goalless draw.

Bruno Felipe was sent off for a second bookable offence with only 25 minutes played, leaving the Cypriot side to play more than an hour a man down.

It appeared Olympiacos would also be reduced to 10 men when Mehdi Taremi was shown a second-half red card, but that decision was overturned following a VAR review, meaning Pafos had to do it the hard way as they battled to a brilliant clean sheet and precious point.

Data debrief: A word of warning for two debutants

Of course, Pafos, unlike Bodo, were never behind, but theirs was also an uphill battle after the red card.

While Pafos became the 11th team to have a player sent off in their first Champions League match, Bruno Felipe's dismissal was the earliest of any of those.

There will be optimism then for future matches, but Slavia provide evidence that strong first results cannot always be built upon.

After collapsing against Bodo, Slavia have still won only one of their 13 Champions League matches – that victory coming in their competition bow in 2007.