Form and Line-up FK Sutjeska Niksic
After becoming champions of Montenegro for the first time in four years, FK Sutjeska Niksic returned to the Champions League. Given three defeats in four Conference League qualifying matches last summer, defeat to the champions of Kazakhstan is no surprise at all. European competition is extremely difficult for the team from Niksic: in their entire history in such matches, they have just one win in 20 games.
Key numbers for FK Sutjeska Niksic:
FK Sutjeska Niksic have lost all 4 matches since the end of last season, including official and friendly games.
Milorad Pekovic's team have lost their last 4 matches by a single-goal margin.
In their 4 Champions League matches before facing Kairat Almaty, FK Sutjeska Niksic lost without scoring a single goal.
Probable line-up (4-3-3): Giljen - Raznatovic, Babic, Kopitovic, Golubovic - Simun, Hocko, Cadenovic - Anicic, Mrvaljevic, Cavor.
Form and Line-up Kairat Almaty
In last season's successful campaign, Kairat Almaty got past all their opponents in Champions League qualifying thanks to their home matches. In those games they recorded clean-sheet wins, three out of four, or played out a goalless draw against Celtic. The goal conceded to FK Sutjeska Niksic was their first in qualifying since 2022. Away from home, the Yellow-Blacks have now gone 12 matches without beating anyone. The last side they defeated were only Luxembourg club Fola Esch (4:1).
Key numbers for Kairat Almaty:
Kairat Almaty scored in 5 of their 8 away Champions League matches in the 2025/26 season.
In away qualifying matches for the previous Champions League, Rafael Urazbakhtin's team conceded an average of 1 goal per game.
In 6 of their 8 matches in this tournament last season, the handicap (+1.5) on Kairat Almaty landed.
Probable line-up (4-2-3-1): Anarbekov - Tapalov, Martynovich, Lucas Africo, Mata - Kasabulat, Oksanen - Jukkola, Jorginho, Mrynskiy - Marc Gual.
Match referee
Wojciech Myć (Poland)
Matches – 23 (international matches and the Polish Championship, 2025/26);
Average fouls per match – 27;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellow cards) – 3.8;
Matches with a red card – 0 out of 23;
Matches with a penalty awarded – 3 out of 23.
