Astana take on the visitors Hunedoara in the second leg of semifinals of EUFA Champions League qualification. First leg result: 2-1. The match will be played on Wednesday, August 14th at Almaty Central Stadium (Almaty).
"Astana" were the reigning champions of Kazakhstan from 2014 to 2019. Moreover, during that period, the team consistently played in the group stages of European competitions, including making their debut in the main round of the UEFA Champions League in 2015. However, a decline followed—finishing 3rd, then 2nd place. But in 2022, they managed to reclaim the national title... only to lose it again the following season, finishing in second place. Now, the former giants have only managed 5 wins in 13 matches, leaving them squarely in the middle of the table. It's clear that Babayan's men must realize there won't be any European competitions next year, so they need to give their all right now. At least, they managed to secure a win over "Milsami," even if they let a 90th-minute equalizer slip in Moldova, they held on to a 1-0 win at home. In Romania, they weren't rattled by conceding a first-half goal—in the last half-hour, the experienced visitors turned the match around with a 2-1 comeback victory.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
"Corvinul Hunedoara" – A New Name for Many. The "Ravens" played in Romania's second division last season. Even now, they remain there—they earned enough points to finish among the leaders but couldn't advance due to a "conflict of interest" involving the project's owners. However, what couldn't be taken away from this team was their cup triumph. They won the trophy in the spring—a unique achievement in the club's history. Moreover, the Romanians entered the UEFA Europa League, debuting with a 4-0 win against "Paks" in Hungary. Even a 0-2 home loss didn't stop them from advancing. The underdogs then held "Rijeka" to a goalless draw on their home turf. But in Croatia, Petrovic scored an early goal, leading the hosts to victory, sending their opponent to the less prestigious UEFA Conference League. There, they scored but conceded twice and lost.
This exotic pair had never faced each other before last week. The Kazakhs are in an excellent position. Bet on them to secure a home win on their turf.
Prediction for the match: Astana to win.
