Why Kairat Are Favourites for the Match
The gap in the odds is noticeable — from 2.18 for a home win to 3.28 for an away success, while Kairat keep their status as favourites despite losing the first match.
Kairat put together a productive run in European qualifying, beating Sutjeska twice (2:1 and 2:0), and added wins over Ordabasy (2:1) and Atyrau (3:1) in the Kazakhstan league.
Omonia, meanwhile, come into the match unbeaten. Before the narrow win over Kairat, they had built up a run of four matches without a slip-up, but all of them were friendlies.
Kairat did not concede once against Omonia in the Conference League group stage five years ago. On the other hand, the Kazakh side also failed to score (both matches finished 0:0).
At home, Kairat are on a run of four wins. Across that spell since 17 June, the team have scored 12 goals in total.
Form and Line-up Kairat
Despite the setback in the opening match against Omonia, Urazbakhtin's side looked excellent away from home, racking up as many as 14 shots. Kairat rotated wisely after a demanding European fixture and it paid off: they deservedly beat Ordabasy (2:1) in the main match of the second half of the Kazakhstan Premier League season. Gual shone again in that game, and he now has 4+2 in seven KPL matches. There are doubts over Jorginho's condition after he was substituted early in the match, but the Portuguese forward should recover in time for the decisive Champions League qualifier.
Key numbers for Kairat:
The Almaty side had gone eight matches in a row unbeaten before the first match against Omonia.
Kairat reclaimed the lead in the KPL with a win over Ordabasy (2:1). They have the best defence in the tournament (14 conceded in 20 games).
Kairat have not lost at home since January — that was their final home match of the Champions League league phase against Club Brugge (1:4).
Probable Kairat line-up (4-2-3-1): Temirlan Anarbekov — Luis Mata, Lucas Africo, Aleksandr Martynovich, Yerkin Tapalov — Jaakko Oksanen, Adilet Sadybekov — Oiva Jukkola, Jorginho, Alexandr Mrynskiy — Mark Gual.
Form and Line-up Omonia
Berg's side are slightly ahead of Kairat in terms of total squad value (15.1 million euros against 12.6), but the champions of Cyprus are clearly in worse physical shape. In effect, in Nicosia Omonia were only trying to protect the scoreline. Of course, Nego's sending-off had a direct impact on that, but even before it the Greens did not create many clear-cut chances. Defending for another 90 minutes, but now away against a motivated opponent, will not be easy for Omonia.
Key numbers for Omonia:
The Cypriot champions have played only one official match since late May.
Omonia spent more than an hour playing with ten men a week ago. Over 90 minutes, they had only two shots on target.
Since April, three of Omonia's four away matches have gone Under 3.5. They did not concede away to Kairat in the Conference League in 2021 (0:0).
Probable Omonia line-up (4-3-3): Fabiano Freitas — Jure Balkovec, Nikolas Panagiotou, Senou Coulibaly, Stefan Simic — Mateo Maric, Muamer Tankovic, Panagiotis Andreou — Jaden Montnor, Andronikos Kakoullis, Ewandro.
Absentees: Loic Nego (suspension).
Who Will Referee the Match
Rohit Saggi (Norway)
Matches - 11 (international matches, 2025-2026);
Average fouls per match - 26;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) - 3.5;
Matches with red cards - 2 out of 11;
Matches with penalties - 4 out of 11.
