Kairat take on the visitors Celtic in the second leg of UEFA Champions League Qualification final round. First leg result: 0-0. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 26th at Almaty Central Stadium (Almaty).
Kairat, known earlier as Lokomotiv, looked solid even back in Soviet times and became champions of Kazakhstan in 1992. Since then, they have only added three more league titles, most recently reclaiming the crown in 2024 after a four-year gap. This season, they are again in contention at the top of the Premier League table, although Astana and Tobol remain equally strong challengers. The demanding schedule of European qualifiers has taken its toll, but Kairat have impressed by eliminating Olimpija Ljubljana, KuPS, and Slovan Bratislava. Crucially, their home form in Almaty has been decisive in those successes, and after overturning a 0-2 away loss against the Finns, they have shown real resilience. Their current run highlights not only fighting spirit but also tactical discipline, making them one of the most intriguing underdogs of the qualifying campaign. With confidence building, Kairat now believe they can achieve what once seemed unrealistic.
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Celtic come here with only victory in mind. For the Hoops, winning the Scottish Premiership has become almost routine, with Rangers managing to dethrone them just once since their return to the top flight. Last season brought yet another domestic title, and on top of that, Celtic reached the Champions League knockout stages, nearly upsetting Bayern in Munich. They have also started the new campaign strongly, winning both in the Premiership and the League Cup. However, the first serious test came in qualification last week, and they underwhelmed against the Kazakhs, failing to score and settling for a goalless draw. That result means nothing less than victory will be enough on the road. Their attack, which usually delivers plenty of goals domestically, must now step up under real pressure. Celtic’s experience and squad depth suggest they are capable, but they cannot afford another wasteful night.
The clubs are separated by vast distance both geographically and in terms of European tradition, so it is no surprise that this is their first ever meeting. Celtic remain the superior side in terms of quality and European pedigree, and they should prove it with a result here. Expect the Hoops to edge out victory, even if it will not come easily.
Prediction for the match: Celtic to win.
