Verdict: Kairat Almaty double chance
Best Odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Two camps who find their respective Champions League qualifying adventures hanging in the balance on Tuesday afternoon, Kairat Almaty will welcome Olimpija Ljubljana to Kazakhstan.
Kairat Almaty
Starting with the hosts, while Kairat Almaty might have travelled over to Slovenia last week pencilled in as a real underdog contender, Rafael Urazbakhtin’s side put in a rugged performance on foreign soil. Eventually snatching a 1-1 stalemate at the Stoic Stadium, the reigning Premier League champions will return to Almaty on Tuesday afternoon smelling a real opportunity. Making real history last season as they clinched a fourth domestic crown, Urazbakhtin’s men are enjoying what has been another extended flurry. Winning their previous three consecutive domestic appearances by an aggregate score of 6-0, the midweek hosts are unbeaten in all of their last six outings across all competitions and they will also be excited by their extended success on home soil. In fact, Almaty have suffered just a single competitive defeat in front of their own supporters since September 2024.
Kairat Almaty Team News
Bagging a first-leg strike in Slovenia last week and completing a move to Premier League giants Chelsea earlier in the year, 16-year-old sensation Dastan Satpaev will play a leading role in the final third.
The former Krasnodar duo of Igor Sorokin and Aleksandr Martynovich will start at the heart of Almaty’s defence on Tuesday afternoon. Completing a permanent switch from Astana ahead of the 2025 campaign, Aleksandr Zarutskiy will start between the sticks here.
Olimpija Ljubljana
As for the visitors, while Olimpija Ljubljana might have signed off their pre-season preparations with a real flurry, the Dragons will be furious that they missed out on the chance to claim an essential first-leg advantage last week. Despite cruising their way to a fourth domestic crown last season, it is fair to say that the Slovenian heavyweights have struggled to find any real fluidity so far this calendar year. Knowing that their Champions League qualifying adventure hangs in the balance here, it should be highlighted that Tuesday’s hosts have gained an unwanted tag for their struggles away from the Stozice Stadium. In fact, Tuesday’s guests have recorded just a pair of competitive victories outside of Ljubljana since the start of February.
Olimpija Ljubljana Team News
Bagging a first-leg strike on home soil last week, one-time Benfica youngster Diogo Pinto will keep his spot in the middle of the park and partner Nigerian international Peter Agba.
Left as an unused substitute in Ljubljana east week, Spanish defender Manuel Pedreno could be handed a full recall. Completing a permanent move to the Stozice Stadium ahead of the 2025 campaign, Estonian international Alex Tamm should keep his spot leading the line.
Kairat Almaty vs Olimpija Ljubljana Key Factors to Consider
- When Kairat Almaty and Olimpija Ljubljana met for their first-leg showdown last week, Tuesday’s opponents played out a 1-1 stalemate at the Stozice Stadium.
- Kairat are unbeaten in all of their last six outings across all competitions
- Tuesday’s hosts have suffered just a single competitive defeat in front of their own supporters since September 2024.
- Olimpija Ljubljana have recorded just a pair of completive victories on their travels since the start of February.
- The Dragons have also registered just a sole clean sheet on the road from their previous five attempts.
Conclusion
Excited to make a return to home soil on in midweek, Kairat Almaty should be fancying their chances of pulling off a real Champions League qualifying upset. Gaining a reputation for their extended success on home soil, Tuesday’s hosts will also meet a Ljubljana squad who have failed to find any kind of fluidity on their travels so far this calendar year. Mustering just a pair of competitive wins away from the Stozice Stadium since the start of February, we are backing a home double chance.
Verdict: Kairat Almaty double chance
Best Odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
