Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League qualifying match.
One of the standout fixtures in the first qualifying round of the Champions League sees Olimpija Ljubljana host Kairat Almaty, with the potential for a surprise result in the first leg. The Kazakhs head into the tie in good domestic form, whereas the Slovenians have played just four pre-season friendlies, making it tough to identify a clear favourite.
Olimpija Ljubljana
While there’s not a significant gap in overall quality, Olimpija Ljubljana appear to have a slight edge in terms of squad valuation — €14.13 million compared to €12.80 million. Under Jorge Simão, the team recorded friendly wins over FK Vardar (2:0), KF Vllaznia Shkodër (4:0) and PFC CSKA Sofia (3:0), though they looked shaky at the back in a 3:3 draw against MTK Budapest. Earlier in 2025, Olimpija Ljubljana were eliminated in the UEFA Europa Conference League play-offs, failing to score in either leg against FK Borac Banja Luka (0:1 and 0:0).
Kairat Almaty
Since the domestic season resumed in late February, Kairat have only experienced one brief dip in form in mid-May. In their last five league fixtures, they have collected 13 points and netted 10 goals. During Friday’s commanding 4:0 victory over FC Turan, the squad dominated possession. Dastan Satpaev came off the bench to register an assist — the player now has 8 goals and 4 assists in league play and is eager to make an impact in Europe.
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Kairat Almaty Prediction
With the benefit of home advantage, Olimpija Ljubljana may enjoy more possession, but Kairat are expected to carve out chances in Ljubljana. Taking the visitors with a +1 game handicap appears a solid choice.
