Kairat Almaty vs Real Madrid: An unprecedented Champions League showdown

Europe 30 September 2025 at 04:42

Aliou Toundé

News Editor

Real Madrid travels to Kazakhstan this Tuesday night to take on Kairat Almaty in a never-before-seen Champions League duel. After suffering a heavy defeat against Atlético (5-2) in the Champions League, Xabi Alonso's men have a chance to bounce back—even though the defensive absences are cause for concern.

Kairat: an ambitious opponent?

After a tough start to their Champions League campaign against Sporting Lisbon (4-1), Kairat Almaty regained confidence with three consecutive wins in the Kazakh championship. The club notably beat Okzhetpes 1-0, Aktobe 1-0, and Zhenis 4-1, with Dastan Satpaev netting a brace in the last match. At home, Kairat almost always finds the net: 19 goals in their last 20 matches in Almaty.

A Madrid defense in crisis

Real are traveling with a depleted backline. Carvajal, Militão, Rüdiger, Mendy, and Alexander-Arnold are all ruled out. This situation forces Xabi Alonso to reshuffle his defensive line. However, Madrid's attack remains a formidable force, powered by Mbappé and Vinicius, who can change the game at any moment.

What lineups for this first-ever meeting?

This match marks the first official encounter between these two teams. For Kairat, it's a unique opportunity to shine on the European stage. For Real, it's about asserting their dominance despite squad rotation and missing players.

Probable lineups

Kairat Almaty: Kalmurza – Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata – Kassabulat, Arad – Jorginho, Mrynskiy, Gromyko – Satpaev

Real Madrid: Courtois – Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras, Garcia – Valverde, Tchouaméni – Guler, Mastantuono, Vinicius – Mbappé