🔊 Can Kairat pull off a sensational upset against Celtic in the Champions League qualification playoffs? A historic entry into the group stage of Europe's premier club competition could happen on home soil—at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadium in Kazakhstan. In the first leg in Glasgow, a small miracle occurred as the Almaty side kept a clean sheet. Moreover, the visitors had a few genuine opportunities to score themselves. Will the dynamics shift in the return leg 1,600 kilometers away from Scotland? Let's assess the chances of success for both teams and strive to provide an objective evaluation of the outcome and other events in the upcoming match.

Head-to-Head

📊 The first head-to-head clash took place on August 20 at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Despite dominating possession, the Scots failed to convert their advantage into goals. Kairat found the back of the net, but their effort was ruled out for offside. The final score on the board was 0-0.

Kairat Almaty Team Overview

🟡 Rafael Urazbakhtin's squad showcased impressive defensive organization and surprised with unconventional moves in their rare attacks. The match in Glasgow kicked off with a dangerous corner from them in the 2nd minute—Edmilson couldn't quite connect with a header at the far post. The Brazilian had another chance early in the second half, capitalizing on a defender's error from the "Celts." Without hesitation, the forward launched a pinpoint shot from 40 meters out, narrowly missing the crossbar behind Scottish keeper Peter Schmeichel. Near the end of the match, midfielder Valery Gromyko came close to scoring with a long-range effort that just missed the right post. The ball did find Celtic's net after a touch from another Belarusian, Kairat's experienced captain Alexander Martynovich. However, the 38-year-old defender's goal was ruled out for offside.

⚫ It's hard to single out one player from Kairat, but Scottish media were particularly impressed by 17-year-old prodigy Dastan Satpayev. The forward repeatedly troubled the "Celts" defense, and it was his run past Kieran Tierney that led to Martynovich's offside goal. We've already mentioned the creativity of Brazilian Edmilson, so let's highlight substitute goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov, who came on in the 75th minute for the injured Alexander Zarutsky. The 21-year-old keeper held his own at such a high level, confidently seeing out the match to a goalless draw, making one save and intercepting two dangerous crosses, one of which left him playing with a bandaged head.

Celtic Team Overview

🍀 The Scots faced considerable criticism for their "toothless" attacking display at Celtic Park. However, it wasn't entirely without chances. Following a slick three-pass sequence in the box, winger Daizen Maeda broke into Kairat's penalty area but pushed the ball too far ahead and failed to beat the goalkeeper. After receiving adjustments from Brendan Rodgers during halftime, the Celts started the second half with vigor and nearly scored within seconds: the most dangerous moment came from the opposite flank, where right winger James Forrest struck the post. Celtic dominated possession throughout the match (67% to 33%), yet failed to produce truly threatening attacking actions, managing just 0.5 xG from 11 attempts, with only three on target.

⚪️ One of Celtic's standout performers was forward Daizen Maeda, who consistently troubled Kairat's defense and created opportunities for his teammates. The Japanese player's versatility in attack was evident last season as well—he was not only the top scorer in the Premiership with 16 goals but also led in assists with 10. Another versatile player who impressed was Benjamin Nygren, who joined the club this summer. Originally a striker, under Brendan Rodgers' guidance he has been appearing on the wing. While his deep-lying play didn't pay off against Kairat, it proved beneficial in the second round of the Scottish Premiership against Aberdeen, where he recorded a goal and an assist.

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Kairat Almaty

🎙 Rafael Urazbakhtin expressed his gratitude to his players following the match in Glasgow: "We are, you could say, just one step away from our dream. For each of us, the upcoming game is probably the most important match of our lives. I don't shy away from saying that. Right now, it's crucial for us to get home and recover. Once we're back, we'll strategize on how to play. We're determined to make our dream a reality," said the Kairat coach.

❌ Kairat will be without goalkeeper Alexander Zarutsky for the match in Almaty. He was substituted in the 75th minute in Glasgow due to an injury. Reports indicate that the goalkeeper has suffered a serious knee injury and may miss the rest of the season in Kazakhstan. Another significant setback is the absence of Dastan Satpayev. The forward disrupted Celtic's free-kick play and picked up an additional yellow card.

Celtic

🎙 Celtic fans called for the board's resignation during their match against Kairat. Midway through the second half, supporters of the Scottish club began chanting "Sack the board" due to their dissatisfaction with the lack of transfers. "I've never heard of a board being sacked. In any club, it's usually the manager who gets the axe. It's the manager, not the board, who gets sacked. We need to strengthen the squad. The fans see that. But I take responsibility as the head coach," stated Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

❌ During the match in Glasgow, three players left the field due to injuries: defenders Alistair Johnston and Auston Trusty, and forward Adam Idah. While the extent of Trusty and Idah's injuries remains uncertain, Johnston was stretchered off and is doubtful for the return leg in Kazakhstan.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Kairat have lost their attacking leader, Dastan Satpayev, due to a foolish mistake by the young forward towards the end of the match in Glasgow. As has happened before, Edmilson is likely to shift from the flank to fill his spot. The Brazilian has made an impressive start in the local league, netting 3 goals in 4 matches since joining the club two months ago. However, at the Champions League level, he has yet to score in seven matches, raising doubts about whether he can fully replace Satpayev. Additionally, the Almaty side are without their first-choice goalkeeper, making it even harder to withstand the visitors' attacking pressure. Kairat will struggle offensively, giving Kasper Schmeichel a strong chance to keep a clean sheet. Our pick: both teams to score (no).

🚩 Corner Prediction

Before their head-to-head clash, Celtic's individual corner total was significantly higher than their opponent's: 8.6 compared to 6.2 over the last 10 matches. This dominance was evident in Glasgow against Kairat (15 to 3) and continued in their next Premiership game (10:4). The outcome of the first leg will push the Scots to find even more creative ways to breach the hosts' defense, but their primary weapon of corners is likely to remain as potent. We believe the "Celts" might even surpass their upper corner standards, while the Kazakhs will rely on the 190 cm tall Edmilson in Satpayev's absence. A bet on total corners over 9.5 seems the most likely outcome.

After the first leg, the odds for Kairat have plummeted, yet they still lag far behind Celtic's — there's nearly a threefold gap between the teams' odds. Both clubs face significant losses ahead of the return fixture: the "Celts" have lost a key defender, while the Kazakhs are without their top goalkeeper and main creative force in attack. The long flight after Saturday's Premiership match doesn't favor the Scots either, as they will have much less time to adapt. The "Yellow-Blacks" won't play their next league match until August 31st, giving them ample time to prepare for the upcoming clash.

The key for the Almaty side is the emotional stability of their 21-year-old goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov. Young by goalkeeping standards, he confidently saw the match in Glasgow through to its conclusion. Anarbekov has already played in 32 senior-level matches in the league and cup — an impressive record for a keeper of his age. However, whether he can command the defense for a full 90 minutes in a Champions League-level match remains a big question mark. We anticipate that the game in Kazakhstan will follow a similar pattern to the first meeting, but with Kairat finding it harder to fend off their opponent's attacks. We expect the "Celts" to at least notch a goal and finish the game with a 1-0 victory. The odds suggest a safer bet on total goals under 3.5.