UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 1
Kairat Almaty 2 - 0 FT Olimpija Ljubljana
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Newcastle
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Hull City
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⚖️ Balance
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⭐ Stars
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Celta Vigo
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
5' Jorginho (L. Mata)
10' Edmilson
31' A. Mrynskiy (Jorginho)
39' ↓ D. Pinto ↑I. Durdov
39' ↓ M. Brest ↑D. Mitrovski
Dino Kojić 45'+1
HT
56' ↓ D. Kojic ↑A. Marin
60' Egor Sorokin
↓ D. Satpaev ↑G. Zaria 61'
↓ A. Mrynskiy ↑J. Stanojev 61'
↓ Edmilson Santos ↑V. Gromyko 70'
72' Giorgi Zaria
76' Dan Glazer
78' ↓ A. Blanco ↑J. Urbancic
78' ↓ A. Tamm ↑M. Pedreno
↓ Jorginho ↑Ricardinho 83'
↓ D. Glazer ↑A. Sadybekov 83'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kairat Almaty
Midfielders
G. Fink
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Diga
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
V. Jelenkovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Muhamedbegovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Blanco
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Doffo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
P. Agba
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Pinto
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Kojic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Tamm
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Brest
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
M. Dajcar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Urbancic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Mitrovski
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Durdov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Pedreno
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
F. Ananou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Gorenc
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Acimovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Marin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Olimpija Ljubljana
Midfielders
Aleksandr Zarutskiy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Mrynskiy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Martynovich
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Egor Sorokin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luís Mata
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Erkin Tapalov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dan Glazer
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Damir Kasabulat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jorge Monteiro
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Edmilson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dastan Satpaev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Temirlan Anarbekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Adilet Sadybekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Giorgi Zaria
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ofri Arad
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Shirobokov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jug Stanojev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luka Gadrani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Valeri Gromyko
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Daniyar Tashpulatov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ismail Bekbolat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ramazan Bagdat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ricardo Viana
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/08/2025 | Olimpija Ljubljana | 1 - 1 | Kairat Almaty | UEFA Champions League | Stadion Stožice |
07/08/2025
Kairat Almaty Win
Olimpija Ljubljana Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kairat Almaty
Olimpija Ljubljana
Kairat Almaty
Olimpija Ljubljana
Kairat's Blitzkrieg: Almaty Silences Ljubljana's European Dream
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 23/100. This wasn't a contest—it was a statement, as Kairat Almaty dismantled Olimpija Ljubljana with clinical efficiency to seize control of their Champions League tie.
The Perfect Start
From the opening whistle, Kairat attacked with intensity that caught their visitors off guard. Jorginho needed just five minutes to break the deadlock, latching onto a perfectly weighted delivery from L. Mata to fire past Ljubljana's defence. The goal set the tone for what would become a relentless display of dominance at Almaty Central Stadium. Olimpija barely had time to settle before finding themselves chasing shadows.
Control and Conviction
The balance of play never shifted. Kairat pressed high, moved the ball with purpose, and suffocated Ljubljana's midfield before it could gain any rhythm. By the 31st minute, the Slovenian side's misery deepened when A. Mrynskiy capitalized on another swift Kairat move, this time assisted by the ever-present Jorginho. Two goals in 26 minutes against a team desperate to make an impression on Europe's grandest stage—it was a chastening lesson in preparation and execution.
The Damage Done
With the tie effectively decided, Kairat controlled the remainder without panic. Olimpija offered resistance in patches but never threatened the Almaty side's composure. The stakes of the return leg now favour the hosts decisively. For Ljubljana, this away defeat represents a crisis—they must overturn a two-goal deficit against a team that showed clinical ruthlessness in the opening half-hour. The mountain is steep, and the oxygen is thin.
Key Questions
Did Kairat's early goals decide the tie?
Largely, yes. Two goals in 26 minutes gave Almaty a commanding buffer. Ljubljana faces an uphill battle in the return leg.
How did Jorginho perform?
Exceptional. One goal and one assist in 26 minutes—he orchestrated Kairat's attack with precision and tempo.
What's next for Ljubljana?
They must win the return leg by three goals or more to advance. A monumental task after this display.
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.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Fine Margins at Almaty Central Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 8/100. This first-leg clash serves as a high-stakes survival test for two sides desperate to find their footing and keep their European aspirations alive.
The Setup
Kairat Almaty enters this continental campaign with a concerning domestic Form, having failed to secure a victory in their last five matches. Their defensive record—conceding 19 goals across seven games—suggests a vulnerability that Olimpija Ljubljana will be keen to exploit. Despite the low number of Stars on display, the competitive Balance remains narrow; both teams understand that a single lapse in concentration at Almaty Central Stadium could end their journey before it truly begins. For the home side, the Stakes are high as they look to arrest a slump that has seen them pick up only one point from a possible fifteen.
Key Battle
With no marquee individuals dominating the headlines, the tie will be decided by the tactical discipline of the respective midfields. Kairat's central unit must provide a much-needed shield for a porous backline that has looked fragile under pressure. Olimpija Ljubljana will likely attempt to control the tempo, using patient possession to frustrate the home support and lure the Kazakh side into overcommitting. It is a classic confrontation of defensive restoration versus opportunistic control.
Our Prediction
Expect a tentative encounter where neither side is willing to take the risks necessary to blow the tie open. Kairat will prioritize defensive solidity to avoid a disastrous home deficit, while Ljubljana will be content to return home with a draw. A 1-1 stalemate is the most likely outcome, with the goals coming from set-pieces rather than open-play brilliance.