Kairat vs Celtic Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Playoffs
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Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty have enjoyed a surprise run in the UEFA Champions League, and they now have a huge change to reach the league phase of the competition.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – CBS Sports
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Key Stats
- Kairat are aiming for their first participation in the UEFA Champions League proper. The only previous appearance by a team from Kazakhstan was Astana in 2015/16.
- Kairat’s only participation in a UEFA group stage/league phase was in the 2021/22 UEFA Conference League.
- This is only Kairat’s third season in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. The lost in the first qualifying round in 2005/06 and in the second qualifying round in 2021/22.
- Kairat’s only previous UEFA competition tie against a Scottish team were when they defeated Aberdeen 3-2 on aggregate in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round (2-1 h, 1-1 a).
- Kairat won their previous three home matches in UEFA Champions League qualifying this season without conceding a goa; 2-0 vs Olimpija (1QR), 3-0 vs KuPS (2QR) and 1-0 vs Slovan Bratislava (2QR).
- Kairat have kept four clean sheets in their seven UEFA Champions League qualifying matches this season
- This is Celtic’s 40th European Cup/UEFA Champions League participation – they are one of only six teams to reach 40 (the others are Real Madrid-56, Benfica-45, Bayern-42, Dynamo Kyiv-41 and Ajax-40 *all updated with this season).
- Celtic are aiming for a fourth successive participation in the UEFA Champions League proper. Last season they went on to reach the knockout round play-offs where they lost against Bayern (2-3 agg; 1-2 h, 1-1 a).
- Celtic’s total of 13 appearances in the UEFA Champions League group stage/league phase is a Scottish record.
- Celtic have been successful in four of their last six UEFA Champions League play-off ties. Most recently in 2017/18 when they progressed to the group stage with a victory against Astana (8-4 agg; 5-0 h, 3-4 a).
- Celtic have won their previous three UEFA competition two-legged ties against teams from Kazakhstan, most recently in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League play-off round when they progressed to the group stage with a victory against Astana (8-4 agg; 5-0 h, 3-4 a).
- Celtic are without a win in their previous three UEFA competition matches away from home against teams from Kazakhstan (D1 L2).
- Celtic lost the second leg in their last four UEFA Champions League play-off ties.
- Celtic have lost their away leg in four of their last five UEFA Champions League play-off ties (D1 L4).
Kairat vs Celtic prediction
In the first-leg of this UEFA Champions League playoff round tie at Celtic Park in Glasgow last week, Kairat pulled off a surprise to earn themselves a goalless draw against Scottish champions Celtic, who would have expected to win comfortably.
Kairat pulled off a surprise in the third qualifying round, too, as they edged past Slovan Bratislava on penalties. Celtic’s transfer business has been slow and perhaps overshadowed their start to this season, with the first Old Firm Derby of the season coming up this weekend. The Bhoys hammered Livingston by three goals to nil in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend.
Celtic were blunt last week and Brendan Rodgers needs a response. Kairat will be stubborn and, again, likely difficult to break down, but Celtic do remain favourites.
Kairat vs Celtic tip: Celtic to win & under 3.5 goals
