26th Aug. UEFA Champions League - FC Kairat Almaty VS Celtic FC Prediction
UEFA Champions League - FC Kairat Almaty VS Celtic FC
Match Time:27-08-2025 00:45 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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FC Kairat Almaty
Kairat Almaty, coached by Rafael Urazbakhtin, is aiming for their first-ever Champions League league phase appearance. They earned a 0-0 draw at Celtic Park in the first leg on August 20, 2025, showing defensive resilience with 10 shots and 45% possession. Their recent form includes one win, two draws, and two losses in five competitive matches, averaging 1.3 goals scored and 0.8 conceded, as shown in the sports card above (e.g., 2-3 loss to Yelimay Semey on August 16, 2025). Key players include Dastan Satpaev (3 goals), Jorge Gabriel Costa Monteiro (Jorginho, 2 goals, 2 assists), and Vadim Uljanov (goalkeeper), with a probable 4-2-3-1 lineup: Uljanov; Kasabulat, Martynovich, Hälikov, Seydakhmet; Glazer, Gromyko; Zaria, Satpaev, Jorginho; de Paula Santos Filho. Strengths include their defensive organization (100% clean sheets vs Celtic) and home support, but a 2-3 league loss and limited European experience are concerns. They aim to leverage their home advantage and counter-attacking threat to secure a historic win.
Celtic FC
Celtic, led by Brendan Rodgers, is chasing a return to the Champions League league phase after a frustrating 0-0 first-leg draw at home, where James Forrest hit the post and Daizen Maeda missed a late chance. They are unbeaten in five competitive matches, with three wins and two draws, averaging 2.2 goals scored and 0.8 conceded, including a 3-0 Premiership win over Livingston on August 23, 2025. Key players include Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda, and Kyogo Furuhashi, with a probable 4-3-3 lineup: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; O’Riley, McGregor, Hatate; Forrest, Furuhashi, Maeda. Strengths include their attacking quality (2.17 goals per home game) and European experience, but injuries to Alistair Johnston (doubtful, substituted in first leg) and a lack of clinical finishing (0 goals from 15 shots in first leg) are issues. They aim to overcome their first-leg frustrations and win in Almaty, despite the 3,536-mile trip and late 9:45 PM local kick-off.
Head-to-Head
As per the sports card above, Kairat and Celtic have met once, in the first leg on August 20, 2025, ending in a 0-0 draw at Celtic Park (0% over 1.5 goals, 100% clean sheets for both). This is their first competitive meeting in Almaty. Kairat’s defensive solidity held firm, but Celtic dominated possession (55%) and created more chances (15 shots to Kairat’s 10). With no prior matches at Almaty Central Stadium, historical trends are limited, but the first leg suggests a low-scoring, tight contest.
Predicted Score: FC Kairat Almaty 0-1 Celtic FC
Kairat’s Satpaev and Jorginho face Celtic’s Maeda and Furuhashi, with Kairat’s home resilience and defensive setup tested by Celtic’s attacking depth and European pedigree. Celtic are favorites (1.60 odds, 62% win probability) over Kairat (5.25), with a draw at 3.90, per the sports card. Trends (Kairat: 30% over 2.5 goals; Celtic: 50% over 2.5 goals) and the first leg suggest a tight game, with betting tips favoring Celtic to win (1.60) and under 2.5 goals (1.80). Cards may be issued in the 22°C evening, with Kairat’s 13 fouls and Celtic’s 10 per game suggesting 3-4 cards. Kairat aim for a historic upset, but Celtic’s quality should prevail in a must-win tie. Celtic may score through Furuhashi, with Kairat struggling to convert. Celtic’s experience and attacking edge should secure a narrow win, aligning with their first-leg dominance and Kairat’s low-scoring home trend, though Kairat’s defense keeps it close.
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