Kairat vs Club Brugge Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Kairat Almaty were the major surprise qualifier for this season's UEFA Champions League. Their final home game sees the visit of Belgian giants Club Brugge.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Kairat preview: Made history
The Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty majorly overperformed to come through four qualifying rounds and reach the league phase, with penalty shootout wins against Celtic and Slovan Bratislava, but it was always expected to be an extremely tough test to be competitive in the league phase.
That has proven to be the case as they sit rock-bottom in the 36-team table with just one point collected from their six matches. They are currently in the middle of their winter break and so their most recent outing was a 1-0 loss at home to Greek champions Olympiacos last month.
Club Brugge preview: Still a chance for Club Brugge
Club Brugge come into this one on the back of a 2-0 loss away at Sporting Charleroi in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League at the weekend. That has pegged them back in their pursuit of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at the top-of-the-table domestically.
The Belgians have been reasonably competitive in the UEFA Champions League with four points collected from their six matches thus far, including a thrilling 3-3 draw with Barcelona. They begin the penultimate match day sitting just two points behind the top 24.
Kairat team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Kairat to deal with this week but they are without Israel international midfielder Ofri Arad due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Anarbekov; Tapalov, Shirobokov, Sorokin, Mata; Glazer, Baybek; Mrynskiy, Ricardinho, Zaria; Edmilson
Unavailable: Arad (Injured)
Questionable:
Club Brugge team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Club Brugge to deal with and so they can name an unchanged eleven in Kazakhstan for this seventh match day.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Van den Heuvel; Siquet, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys; Stankovic, Onyedika; Forbs, Vanaken, Tzolis; Tressoldi
Unavailable: Mignolet (Injured), Audoor (Injured)
Questionable:
Kairat vs Club Brugge prediction
Club Brugge will believe that this is simply a must win clash in Kazakhstan. It is a game that they should expect to win to keep up the pressure on the top 24. Kairat will want to finish with a bit of a flourish in a historic campaign at home but the visitors do remain firm favourites for this one in the far east of Europe.
Kairat vs Club Brugge Tip: Club Brugge to win
