The second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 qualification playoff between Kairat (Kazakhstan) and Celtic (Scotland) will take place on August 26 at the Central Stadium in Almaty. The score from the first match is 0-0. Kairat vs. Celtic: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Kairat
Rafael Urazbakhtin's team surprised in the first leg by managing to avoid defeat in Scotland. The team spent almost the entire match defending (25% possession) but still managed to keep a clean sheet – 0-0. Notably, the Kazakh side has now gone three consecutive away matches in this tournament without scoring. To reach the main round of the Champions League for the first time in their history, the Almaty team needs to win at home in regular time.
- The club has not lost in regular time in 8 of their last 11 Champions League matches (5 wins and 3 draws).
- At least one team has failed to score in regular time in Kairat's last 6 matches in this tournament.
- No more than two goals have been scored in regular time in 6 of the last 7 matches of the Almaty team in this European competition.
Predicted lineup for Kairat (4-3-3)
Alexander Zarutsky – Alexander Martynovich, Yegor Sorokin, Alexander Mrynsky, Yerkin Tapalov – Valery Gromyko, Ofri Arad, Dan Glazer – Edmilson Filho, Jorginho Costa, Dastan Satpayev.
Forward Dastan Satpayev is out due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Celtic
The team spent nearly the entire match pressing the Kazakh goal but could not break through the visitors' defense. Despite Brendan Rodgers' side having 75% possession and taking 15 corners, they only managed 3 shots on target against Kairat. As a result, Celtic has failed to win in this European competition for four matches (2 draws and 2 losses). They now need to win away, and if it's a draw after 90 minutes, extra time will be played.
- The Scots have only 2 wins in regular time in their last 9 Champions League games (5 draws and 2 losses).
- A maximum of two goals has been scored in regular time in 5 of Celtic's last 7 matches in this tournament.
- The club has not won in regular time in their last 13 away matches in this European competition (6 draws and 7 losses).
Predicted lineup for Celtic (4-3-3)
Kasper Schmeichel – Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston – Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, James Forrest – Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah, Benjamin Nygren.
Referee
Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Matches – 13 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 47;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 38%.
Match Prediction: Kairat vs. Celtic
The Almaty team is just one step away from reaching the main stage of the Champions League. Fully aware of their opponent's strength, the Kazakh side is unlikely to change their playing strategy drastically from the first leg, where they focused on defense. Rafael Urazbakhtin's team will likely concede possession to the opponent again, focusing on defense and counterattacks.
Interestingly, Kairat has won all of their last five home matches in the Champions League, conceding only one goal. The Almaty side can count on a positive outcome in the return leg, as the Scots have struggled away from home. In their last 13 away matches in this European competition, Celtic has not won once and has only scored more than one goal on one occasion.
My prediction – Kairat with a handicap (+1.5)
