Copenhagen vs Kairat Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Danish champions FC Copenhagen are searching for a pivotal UEFA Champions League victory against Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty at the Parken in Scandinavia.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – CBS Sports
Copenhagen preview: Pushing for the top 24
FC Copenhagen come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat of Brondby in the Danish Superliga at the weekend, courtesy of a 72nd minute penalty scored by Julian Larsson, but they have been underwhelming domestically thus far.
In the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Copenhagen have collected just a solitary point from their opening four matches. They most recently suffered a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in north London a few weeks ago.
Kairat preview: The minnows of the UCL
Having managed to squeeze past Slovan Bratislava and then Celtic on penalties in the qualifying rounds, Kairat Almaty have become the most easterly team to have ever qualified for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
Kairat have also started with a draw and three defeats thus far. After a goalless draw against Pafos in Kazakhstan, they then most recently suffered a 2-1 loss to Italian giants and last season’s UCL runners’ up Internazionale at San Siro.
Copenhagen team news: Several injuries
Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney is sidelined for the hosts this week, alongside the likes of Birger Meling, Rodrigo Huescas and Magnus Mattsson.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Kotarski; Suzuki, Pereira, Hatzidiakos, Lopez; Larsson, Lerager, Madsen, Silva; Cornelius, Elyounoussi
Unavailable: Meling (Injured), Delaney (Injured), Huescas (Injured), Mattsson (Injured), Moalem (Injured), Hojer (Injured)
Questionable:
Kairat team news: No Martynovich
Belarus international centre-back Aleksandr Martynovich is the only man sidelined for Kairat this week and so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Anarbekov; Mrynskiy, Shirobokov, Sorokin, Mata; Kassabulat, Arad; Gromyko, Jorginho, Satpaev; Edmilson
Unavailable: Martynovich (Injured)
Questionable:
Copenhagen vs Kairat prediction
FC Copenhagen will be forced to take the initiative here with their home advantage. Despite their fallibilities being exposed and a general inconsistency shown thus far this season, including domestically, they have been quite effective in the final third. They face a Kairat side that were able to be tight against Pafos and Inter, but their opening couple of games against Sporting CP and Real Madrid saw them concede nine goals. With their home advantage, Copenhagen have to be viewed as firm favourites.
Copenhagen vs Kairat Tip: Copenhagen to win
