Match Information
Match Overview
Kairat Almaty host Levski Sofia at the Turkestan Arena in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the UEFA Champions League, with this fixture serving as the second leg of a two-leg tie following the August 4 meeting in Sofia, which Levski won 1-0. That result means Kairat Almaty go into this leg needing to overturn a one-goal deficit on home soil, while Levski Sofia arrive with a slender aggregate cushion to protect. Given the tie remains alive, the outcome of the first leg naturally frames this match as one where Kairat will need to be more incisive in the final third than they were in Sofia, while Levski will look to manage the game and rely on their defensive discipline to see out the aggregate advantage.
Recent form offers useful context. Kairat Almaty's log shows a mixed cocktail of European and domestic results, including wins over Ordabasy and Atyrau in the Premier League, but a loss in each of their last two Champions League qualifying away legs. Levski Sofia, by contrast, have not lost in their last five matches across competitions, including a 3-0 domestic win over Septemvri Sofia on August 1 and a solid run through their 2nd Qualifying Round tie against Universitatea Craiova. That consistency, paired with the away win already banked in this tie, gives Levski a platform of momentum heading into Turkestan Arena.
On the injury front, both squads are reported at full strength, with no unavailability listed for either side. This means both managers, Rafael Urazbakhtin for Kairat Almaty and Julio Velazquez for Levski Sofia, should be able to select from their strongest available options, placing the emphasis squarely on tactics and execution rather than squad disruption.
With the aggregate score line tight and both squads healthy, the match is set up as a clear test of Kairat's ability to create and convert chances against a Levski side that has shown defensive resilience and comfortable recent form.
Predicted Lineups
Kairat Almaty
T. Anarbekov; A. Mrynskiy, A. Martynovich, Lucas Áfrico, Luís Mata; O. Baybek, J. Oksanen, O. Jukkola; M. Gual, Edmilson, A. Sadybekov
Levski Sofia
S. Vutsov; A. Neves, K. Dimitrov, N. Serafimov, A. Centelles; Serginho, G. Trdin, M. Moubarik; A. Oko-Flex, Everton Bala, Reinaldo
Team Form Analysis
Kairat Almaty
Kairat Almaty Form Analysis
Kairat Almaty's recent form shows a team capable of strong domestic results but facing sterner tests in continental competition. In the Premier League, they have been productive, beating Ordabasy 2-1 on July 26 and winning 3-1 away at Atyrau on July 18, both results underlining a functioning attack in domestic fixtures. However, their European form tells a different story: a 1-0 loss away to Omonia Nicosia on July 22 followed by a 1-0 home win over the same opponent on July 29 in the 2nd Qualifying Round, and most recently a 1-0 defeat away to Levski Sofia on August 4 in this very tie. Across their last three Champions League qualifying matches, Kairat have scored only once and conceded three times, a pattern that suggests they have struggled to find the net against higher-level continental opposition compared to their Premier League form. That contrast between domestic scoring output and European defensive vulnerability will be a key subplot as they look to overturn their first-leg deficit at home.
Levski Sofia
Levski Sofia Form Analysis
Levski Sofia head into this fixture unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, a run that spans both domestic and European fixtures. Their most recent result, a 1-0 away win over Kairat Almaty on August 4, gives them the advantage heading into this second leg. Domestically, they have been efficient, defeating Septemvri Sofia 3-0 at home on August 1 and winning 2-1 away at Lokomotiv Sofia on July 25. In the Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round, they progressed through a tie with Universitatea Craiova, winning the home leg 1-0 on July 22 before drawing 2-2 away on July 29. That draw shows they are capable of engaging in high-scoring, competitive matches on the road, while their two 1-0 European wins highlight a defense capable of shutting out opponents. The combination of attacking output in the league and defensive solidity in Europe gives Levski a well-rounded profile going into Turkestan Arena.
Head-to-Head
Kairat Almaty
Levski Sofia
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-04 | Levski Sofia | 1 - 0 | Kairat Almaty |
Memorable Matches
The head-to-head history between these two clubs is limited to their recent Champions League qualifying encounter, with Levski Sofia winning the first leg 1-0 on August 4, 2026 in Sofia. That result stands as the most notable meeting between the sides to date, setting the stage for this second leg at Turkestan Arena. With no further prior meetings on record, this qualifying tie effectively represents the beginning of a head-to-head narrative between Kairat Almaty and Levski Sofia, adding extra significance to how the aggregate tie unfolds across these two legs.
Venue Factor
This match takes place at the Turkestan Arena, Kairat Almaty's home venue, where the atmosphere and home support could play a role in a tie that remains open following Levski's 1-0 first-leg win. Playing at home gives Kairat Almaty the advantage of a familiar surface and the backing of their own supporters as they look to respond to the first-leg result. For Levski Sofia, this represents a trip to Kazakhstan for a decisive continental fixture, testing their ability to perform away from their own domestic environment after having already secured a positive result in the first leg. The significance of the venue is heightened by the qualifying round context, where home advantage in the second leg can
