Celtic 0 - 0 FT Kairat Almaty

Celtic's European Fortress Holds, But Breakthrough Eludes

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 17/100. A 0-0 draw at Celtic Park exposes the razor-thin margin between intensity and clinical finishing in European competition.

Dominance Without Dividend

Liam Scales anchored Celtic's rearguard with a commanding 7.6 rating, marshalling a defence that faced relentless pressure. The Hoops suffocated Kairat Almaty with 75% possession, firing 11 shots—six from inside the box—yet the Kazakhs' goalkeeper stood firm. Fifteen corners manufactured nothing but frustration. Celtic's passing accuracy (88%, 609 of 696 attempts) painted a picture of control without conviction.

Almaty's Defensive Masterclass

Kairat Almaty arrived at Celtic Park as the competition's walking wounded: one point from six matches, a -11 goal difference, and a form line reading LLLDL. Yet they left Glasgow with honour intact. Three saves from their custodian, disciplined shape, and offside precision (only three infractions) transformed a mismatch on paper into a battle of wills. The visitors managed eight shots—none on target—but their balance proved impenetrable.

The Turning Point That Never Came

Celtic's 15 corners represented the match's clearest arithmetic of dominance, yet not one found the target. Almaty's compact five-at-the-back formation absorbed everything thrown at them. The Hoops' 0 expected goals (xG) against Almaty's 0 tells the story: neither side created a genuine clear-cut chance. Scales' outstanding defensive performance kept the stakes alive, but Celtic's attacking third remained a dead end. Two yellow cards for the hosts suggested mounting desperation as the clock ticked toward a scoreless conclusion.

What This Means

In the Champions League, a 0-0 at home is a wound, not a result. Celtic's intensity was never in question—their possession, shot volume, and territorial control were undeniable. But European football punishes wastefulness with ruthlessness. Almaty's survival owes everything to a goalkeeper who made three crucial saves and a defensive unit that refused to crack. For Celtic, the narrative shifts from dominance to disappointment.

Celtic Park Braced for High-Stakes European Survival

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 8/100. This playoff encounter is less about tactical beauty and more about the raw desperation of securing a seat at Europe's top table.

The Setup

As the sun sets on Glasgow this August 20, 2025, the Stakes could not be higher. For Celtic, playing at Celtic Park provides a formidable psychological edge against a Kairat Almaty side that has struggled to find any semblance of Balance this season. The visitors arrive in Scotland with a concerning Form, having managed only one point from their last six outings and conceding 15 goals in the process. While Celtic's internal Stars will look to dominate possession, the narrative is firmly fixed on survival—the winner moves toward the lucrative league stage, while the loser faces the bitter reality of European exit.

Key Battle

The defining conflict will occur in the central third of the pitch. Celtic’s energetic midfield unit is expected to implement a high-intensity press, designed to exploit the lack of composure in the Kairat Almaty defensive line. Without specific individual stars to rely on, the Kazakh side must operate as a disciplined, compact block to withstand the waves of pressure. If the home midfield can disrupt Kairat's transition play early, the match could quickly become a one-sided affair in favor of the Hoops.

Our Prediction

Celtic will look to kill the tie early, utilizing the rapturous home atmosphere to overwhelm their opponents. Expect a relentless opening twenty minutes where the home side secures an early breakthrough. Kairat Almaty, despite their best efforts to sit deep, lack the defensive Form to hold out for 90 minutes. We expect a controlled 2-0 victory for Celtic, as they navigate the pressure to secure their progression into the next phase of the competition.