UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round
Kairat Almaty 0 - 1 FT Levski Sofia
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Everton Bala 7'
Reinaldo (Everton Bala) 13'
45'+6 O. Baybek
HT
46' ↓ O. Baybek ↑I. Bekbolat
60' D. Kasabulat
64' ↓ D. Kasabulat ↑Edmilson
A. Neves 74'
↓ A. Neves ↑M. Soula 79'
↓ Everton Bala ↑Maicon 79'
↓ A. Oko-Flex ↑S. Hevertton 79'
↓ Reinaldo ↑J. Perea 83'
84' ↓ M. Gual ↑M. Birkurmanov
N. Serafimov 88'
J. Perea 90'
↓ Serginho ↑A. Mitkov 90'+2
90'+5 G. Mendonsa
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kairat Almaty
Goalkeepers
Temirlan Anarbekov 
MAGNET
23
Activity
23
Activity
23
Passes
0
Duels
Defenders
Damir Kasabulat 
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
Aleksandr Shirobokov
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
67%
Pass Acc
Lucas Áfrico
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
70%
Pass Acc
Luís Mata
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Olzhas Baibek
MAGNET
37
Activity
37
Activity
27
Passes
10
Duels
Jaakko Oksanen
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
60%
Pass Acc
Aleksandr Mrynskiy
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Gustavo Mendonca
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Oiva Jukkola
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
13%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Marc Gual
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
36%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Danila Buch 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Sherkhan Kalmurza
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lev Kurgin 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Erkin Tapalov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adlan Nurgaliev
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daniyar Tashpulatov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adilet Sadybekov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Azamat Tuyakbayev
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mukhamedali Abish
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ismail Bekbolat
MAGNET
17
Activity
17
Activity
8
Passes
9
Duels
Edmilson
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
6%
Pass Acc
Mansur Birkurmanov
MAGNET
4
Activity
4
Activity
2
Passes
2
Duels
Levski Sofia
Goalkeepers
Svetoslav Vutsov 
OCTOPUS
6
Saves
6
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Aldair
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
31%
Pass Acc
Kristian Dimitrov
MAGNET
41
Activity
41
Activity
37
Passes
4
Duels
Nikola Serafimov
MAGNET
48
Activity
48
Activity
40
Passes
8
Duels
Álex Centelles
MAGNET
53
Activity
53
Activity
43
Passes
10
Duels
Midfielders
Gašper Trdin
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
24%
Pass Acc
El Mehdi Moubarik
MAGNET
54
Activity
54
Activity
42
Passes
12
Duels
Armstrong Oko-Flex
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
24%
Pass Acc
Serginho
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
36%
Pass Acc
Everton Bala
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
1
Assists
29%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Reinaldo
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
13%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Ognyan Vladimirov
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Martin Lukov
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Hevertton Santos
MAGNET
2
Activity
2
Activity
2
Passes
0
Duels
Maicon
MAGNET
6
Activity
6
Activity
5
Passes
1
Duels
Christian Makoun
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Asen Ivanov Mitkov
MAGNET
3
Activity
3
Activity
2
Passes
1
Duels
Mazire Soula
MAGNET
8
Activity
8
Activity
7
Passes
1
Duels
David Kusso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adrian Raychev
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Perea
MAGNET
5
Activity
5
Activity
4
Passes
1
Duels
Steven Stoyanchov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/04/2026 | Levski Sofia | 1 - 0 | Kairat Almaty | UEFA Champions League | Vivacom Arena Georgi Asparuhov |
08/04/2026
Kairat Almaty Win
Levski Sofia Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Reinaldo's Early Strike Silences Turkestan Arena in European Qualifier
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 31/100. An early breakthrough and a phenomenal goalkeeping masterclass turned this crucial Champions League tie into a display of ultimate defensive resilience for the Bulgarian visitors.
A Blistering Start
The Stakes could not have been higher under the lights at Turkestan Arena, with both sides desperate to keep their Champions League main-stage dreams alive in this crucial third qualifying round clash. The opening exchanges suggested a cautious affair, but the visitors had other plans. In just the 13th minute, a fleeting moment of vulnerability completely shattered the initial tactical Balance. Everton Bala found a pocket of space and delivered a precise ball into the danger zone, allowing Reinaldo to pounce. The forward made no mistake, burying the early opener and instantly shifting the momentum in favour of Levski Sofia. This immediate breakthrough forced the home side to tear up their initial game plan and throw caution to the wind entirely to chase the game.
The Almaty Siege
Falling behind so early provoked a ferocious response. Kairat Almaty controlled possession, holding 56 percent of the ball, and began laying siege to the Bulgarian penalty area. The Intensity skyrocketed as the hosts launched a staggering 20 total shots, turning the contest into a veritable shooting gallery. A wave of corner pressure—nine in total for the home side—kept the visitors pinned deep in their own half. Lucas Áfrico tried to drive his team forward with an outstanding defensive and transitional performance, pushing the tempo from the backline. However, they found an impenetrable wall waiting for them. The visitors absorbed blow after blow, relying heavily on last-ditch blocks and supreme aerial dominance to survive the relentless barrage that defined the middle phase of the match.
Holding the Line
The final stretches of the match evolved into an extraordinary showcase of goalkeeping heroics. As Kairat threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, Svetoslav Vutsov delivered a career-defining performance between the sticks. The Levski shot-stopper was called into action repeatedly, pulling off six crucial saves to deny certain goals and frustrate the home support. Despite producing six shots on target and generating relentless final-third action, Kairat simply could not find a way past the inspired Bulgarian keeper. When the final whistle blew, the early strike remained the sole difference on the scoreboard. The Bulgarian outfit return home with a massive advantage, leaving the Kazakh side with a mountain to climb in the reverse fixture if they hope to salvage their European campaign.
Key Questions
Who scored the decisive goal for Levski Sofia?
Reinaldo found the back of the net in the 13th minute, finishing off a key pass from Everton Bala to secure the win.
How many saves did Svetoslav Vutsov make?
The Levski Sofia goalkeeper put in a stellar shift, making 6 crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet and ensure his team's victory.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Kairat Almaty Chase European Glory Against Levski Sofia
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 47/100. The lack of elite star power makes this one for the purists, but the promise of goals offers plenty of mid-week entertainment.
The Setup
Kairat Almaty welcome Levski Sofia to the Turkestan Arena on August 11, 2026, for a high-stakes UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round tie. Our Stakes assessment highlights just how crucial this is—both sides are fighting desperately for a place in the lucrative main competition. Kairat's recent Form is impressive, averaging 2.0 goals per game, while the Bulgarian visitors are netting 1.5 themselves. However, a dismal Stars rating reflects the absence of household names, bringing a gritty, workmanlike feel to this qualifying clash.
Key Battle
Kairat's dynamic midfield trio of D. Satpaev, V. Gromyko, and O. Arad will dictate the tempo. The real contest lies in whether Levski Sofia's defensive unit can withstand this sustained pressure and disrupt the hosts' rhythm. A modest Balance rating suggests the Kazakh side holds a noticeable advantage, but in knockout football, a single counter-attack can completely change the narrative.
Our Prediction
Kairat Almaty to edge a tight, high-scoring affair. Expect a 2-1 home victory, driven by their superior midfield control and relentless forward push in front of an expectant crowd.