The Matchday 2 clash of the 2025/26 Champions League group stage between Kairat (Kazakhstan) and Real Madrid (Spain) will take place on September 30 at the Central Stadium in Almaty. Kairat vs. Real Madrid: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Kairat
Rafael Urazbakhtin's side suffered a 1-4 defeat away to Sporting in the previous round. Despite the obvious advantage of their opponents, the Kazakh team held on for a long time, but in the middle of the second half, Kairat conceded three goals in just three minutes. Towards the end, they managed to score a consolation goal, ending a three-match goalless streak in the Champions League. The team has not won in their last four Champions League games (2 draws, 2 losses).
- The team has not conceded more than one goal in 7 of their last 9 matches in this tournament.
- At home in the Champions League, Kairat has not lost in their last 6 matches (5 wins, 1 draw).
- They have scored in 5 of their last 6 home games in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Kairat (4-3-3)
Sherkhan Kalmyrza – Alexander Martynovich, Yegor Sorokin, Alexander Mrinsky, Erkin Tapalov – Valery Gromyko, Ofri Arad, Luis Mata – Edmilson Filho, Jorginho Costa, Dastan Satpayev.
Goalkeepers Alexander Zarutsky and Temirlan Anarbekov, as well as midfielder Giorgi Zaria, are injured.
Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe's brace against Marseille allowed the Spaniards to start the tournament with a 2-1 victory, marking Real's 200th win in the Champions League. They became the first team to reach this milestone. However, the previous Champions League campaign ended with three consecutive defeats. It's important to note that the club has conceded in their last 7 Champions League matches. However, Real's attack compensates for their defensive issues, becoming the first team to score 700 goals in this prestigious European competition.
- Both teams scored in 5 of Real Madrid's last 7 Champions League matches.
- Away from home, the team hasn't drawn in their last 8 Champions League games (4 wins, 4 losses).
- The club conceded first in 5 of their last 7 away games in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Real Madrid (4-5-1)
Thibaut Courtois – Alvaro Carreras, Dean Heisen, Dani Carvajal, Fran Garcia – Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Franco Mastantuono, Vinicius Junior – Kylian Mbappe.
Defenders Antonio Rudiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao, and Ferland Mendy will miss the game due to injuries.
Referee
Marco Guida (Italy)
Matches – 9 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 33;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.7;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 11%.
Kairat vs. Real Madrid: Match Prediction
The excitement around this match in Kazakhstan is immense. Kairat has never faced a team of this caliber in its history. The home crowd's support will be significant, but that's perhaps the only advantage Rafael Urazbakhtin's side can offer against their opponents. The class difference is substantial. However, I believe Kairat has the potential to delight their fans with a goal. Although all of Kairat's previous 6 home matches in the Champions League were in the qualifying stages, they managed to score in 5 of them. The defense of their upcoming opponent allows for opportunities.
Despite having stars in defense, Real Madrid has conceded in 14 of their last 15 Champions League matches. In the last tournament, Real kept only one clean sheet, and just 4 of the 36 participants in the main stage didn't manage a single "clean" game. It's clear that the Spaniards rely on their attack, but a team of such caliber should have fewer defensive problems. Frequent injuries to defenders might be one reason, which they couldn't avoid in the upcoming game. It's worth noting that in their last La Liga round, Xabi Alonso's team conceded 5 goals.
The Kazakh team is not under pressure for results, and even one goal would be a significant event. My prediction: Kairat individual total over 0.5
