Kairat vs Pafos: Prediction, Team News, and Lineups Preview
Kairat Almaty will host Pafos FC in a crucial Champions League match on Tuesday at the Almaty Central Stadium. Both teams are seeking their first wins of this European season after challenging starts.
Match Overview
Kairat has struggled in their initial Champions League matches, suffering significant defeats. They lost 4-1 to Sporting Lisbon and faced a 5-0 loss against Real Madrid, where Kylian Mbappe showcased his talent with a hat-trick. Despite these setbacks, Kairat views the upcoming home match as an excellent opportunity for redemption.
Kairat’s Domestic Performance
In the Kazakhstan Premier League, Kairat has enjoyed considerable success. They currently lead the league, gathering 58 points from 25 matches, with 18 wins, four draws, and just three defeats. This performance places them on the brink of winning back-to-back league titles.
Pafos FC: A Newcomer’s Journey
Pafos, the Cypriot champions, are also participating in the Champions League for the first time. Currently, they sit atop their domestic league with 18 points from seven matches, boasting six victories and one loss while scoring 16 goals and conceding merely four.
In their Champions League journey, Pafos has managed to secure one point so far. They began their campaign with a goalless draw against Olympiacos, despite having ten players due to an early red card. However, they later fell 5-1 to Bayern Munich.
Recent Form
- Kairat: Recent match results include a narrow 1-0 victory in their last league appearance.
- Pafos: The team bounced back with a convincing 4-0 win in their recent league match.
Team News
Kairat may enter the match without their first-choice goalkeeper, Alexandr Zarutskiy, due to a minor injury. Temirlan Anarbekov, who recently returned from injury, is expected to take his place. In-form forward Dastan Satpaev is a key player, having scored four goals in his last four matches.
Pafos will be without defender Pedrao, who has a cruciate ligament injury. However, David Luiz is set to play a crucial role in the defense alongside Derrick Luckassen and David Goldar, while Anderson Silva leads the attack.
Possible Lineups
| Kairat Almaty | Pafos FC |
|---|---|
| Anarbekov; Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata; Mrynskiy, Kasabulat, Arad, Gromyko; Jorginho, Satpaev | Michael; Luiz, Goldar, Luckassen; Pileas, Sunjic, Rodrigues, Jaja; Dragomir, Anderson, Orsic |
Match Prediction
This matchup is crucial for both teams as they aim to secure their first Champions League victory. Given Pafos’ overall performance in domestic competitions and their previous European experience, they are favored to edge out Kairat. Thus, the predicted scoreline could lean towards a 2-1 victory for Pafos FC.
