Kairat Almaty take on the visitors KuPS in the second leg of UEFA Champions League Qualification round of quarterfinals. First leg result: 0-2.The match will be played on Tuesday, July 29th at Almaty Central Stadium (Almaty)
Kairat have long been a prominent force, famously winning the inaugural championship of independent Kazakhstan back in 1992. However, it took more than a decade for the club to repeat such success. They eventually lifted the Premier League trophy again in 2020 and reclaimed the title last season. This year, they have a real chance to defend the title for the first time in their history. But competition is tight, with clubs like Astana posing a serious threat. On top of that, the Champions League qualifiers have added extra pressure. In the first round, Kairat produced a major upset against Olimpija — drawing 1-1 in Ljubljana and then winning 2-0 at home against the Slovenian giants. However, last week’s away match didn’t go as planned — the Kazakh side lost by two goals and struggled to create meaningful chances.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
KuPS entered the summer qualifiers far from their best form. The Canaries have won multiple titles, though most of them came during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1950s to 1970s. They broke a long title drought in 2019 and have since tried to consistently challenge for top spot. Last season, they finally reclaimed the crown, taking advantage of a rare dip from perennial favorites HJK. This year started well too, with KuPS leading the Veikkausliiga early in the campaign. But their form has since declined, with Ilves and Inter Turku now sitting ahead of them in the standings. On the continental stage, however, KuPS got off to a strong start. A narrow 1-0 aggregate win over Milsami — thanks to a second-half goal at home — was enough to advance. Against Kairat in Kuopio, they looked composed and clinical, securing a professional 2-0 win that gives them breathing room ahead of the return leg.
Before last week’s match, these two sides had never faced each other in any official competition. The Kazakh side are capable of mounting a response, but it’s unlikely they’ll do enough to overturn the deficit. We expect a low-scoring encounter — under 3.0 goals looks like the smart bet here.
Prediction for the match: Under 3.0 scored goals.
