The first leg of the second qualifying round of the 2025/26 Conference League between Astana (Kazakhstan) and Zimbru (Moldova) will take place on July 24 at the Astana Arena. Astana vs. Zimbru: prediction, betting odds, statistics.
Astana
The Kazakh team earned a spot in the Conference League by finishing second in the national championship in 2024. This marks their third consecutive participation in this European competition. Last season, the team finished 28th in the group stage, recording only one win (2 draws, 3 losses). The club scored just four goals, with only one opponent faring worse. In the current KPL-2025, Astana is at the top of the table.
- No more than two goals were scored in 6 of Astana's last 8 matches in the Conference League.
- The team has not lost at home in 5 of their last 6 matches in this tournament (4 wins, 1 draw).
- In 6 of their last 8 home games in the Conference League, the club has not conceded more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Astana (4-5-1)
Josip Condric – Branimir Kalaica, Aleksa Amanovic, Karlo Bartolec, Kipras Kazukolovas – Yan Vorogovsky, Nazmi Gripshi, Ousmane Camara, Nuraly Zhaksilykov, Ivan Basic – Chinedu Geoffrey.
Zimbru
Finishing third in the last Moldovan championship allowed the Chisinau team to qualify for the Conference League. Like their upcoming opponent, Zimbru is participating in this tournament for the third consecutive time. However, the second qualifying round has always been a stumbling block for the team, as they have never advanced past this stage. Moreover, the club has never reached the group stage of any European competition. In the current national championship, Zimbru is in fourth place.
In June, the team was taken over by Oleg Kubarev, who previously worked in the Belarusian and Latvian championships.
- The Moldovans have not won in 5 of their last 6 matches in the Conference League (1 draw, 4 losses).
- The club has conceded in 9 consecutive away games in international competitions.
- At least three goals have been scored in 6 of Zimbru's last 7 away matches in European competitions.
Predicted lineup for Zimbru (4-4-2)
Nikolay Chebotar – Mikhail Stefan, Nikolay Zolotov, Andrey Makritsky, Stefan Burgiu – Bruno Paz, Iu Ranera, Diogo Rodrigues, Victor Stina – Guy Dahan, Timofey Sharkovsky.
Referee
Amin Kurgheli (Belarus)
Matches – 5 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 13;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.6;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 0%.
Match Prediction: Astana vs. Zimbru
Astana is rightly favored in the upcoming match. The team regularly participates in European competitions and performs best at home. In the Conference League, Astana has not lost in 5 of their last 6 home matches, securing 4 victories. Their only defeat in this stretch came against the eventual tournament winner. However, they managed to score against Chelsea, and in their last 6 home games in the Conference League, they have netted 13 goals.
Zimbru has played 6 matches in the Conference League, achieving only one victory against a modest opponent – La Fiorita from San Marino. Heading into this game, the Moldovans are on a 4-match losing streak in this tournament, conceding at least three goals in each match during this period. Furthermore, the team has not kept a clean sheet in away European games for over 10 years.
Considering these facts, my prediction: Astana to win and Total Over 1.5 goals
