UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 1
Kairat Almaty 2 - 1 FT Sutjeska
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Futmetrix Verdict
72
FT
Tue, Oct 27
Beijing Guoan
2-2
Jeonbuk Motors
⚡ Intensity
50
⚖️ Balance
80
🏆 Stakes
50
🎲 Upset
40
A lead traded, neither blinked
Futmetrix Verdict
93
FT
Tue, Oct 27
Kyoto Sanga
5-2
Newcastle Jets
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
94
🏆 Stakes
50
🎲 Upset
0
Five goals turned Kyoto's two-goal hole
Futmetrix Verdict
91
FT
Mon, Oct 26
Galatasaray
2-1
Fenerbahçe
⚡ Intensity
60
⚖️ Balance
32
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
0
Osimhen's brace settles the Istanbul derby
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Jovan Čađenović 35'
Aleksa Golubovic 41'
43' Damir Kasabulat
HT
46' ↓ A. Martynovich ↑A. Shirobokov
46' ↓ E. Tapalov ↑Edmilson
46' ↓ D. Kasabulat ↑A. Tuyakbaev
↓ P. Anicic ↑A. Boljevic 60'
↓ V. Cavor ↑B. Toskovic 60'
↓ B. Kopitovic ↑R. Dedic 69'
74' ↓ O. Jukkola ↑I. Bekbolat
Aleksandar Boljević 75'
76' Lucas Africo (I. Bekbolat)
↓ M. Simun ↑A. Scekic 84'
↓ A. Golubovic ↑I. Pajovic 84'
M. Mrvaljevic (D. Hocko) 90'
90' M. Gual (I. Bekbolat)
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kairat Almaty
Goalkeepers
Temirlan Anarbekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Erkin Tapalov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Martynovich
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lucas Áfrico
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luís Mata
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Mrynskiy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Damir Kasabulat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jaakko Oksanen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jorge Monteiro
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Oiva Jukkola
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Marc Gual
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Sherkhan Kalmurza
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Buch
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lev Kurgin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Shirobokov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Nurgaliev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Adilet Sadybekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Olzhas Baybek
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Azamat Tuyakbayev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Abish
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Zeballos
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Edmilson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ismail Bekbolat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sutjeska
Goalkeepers
V. Giljen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
A. Golubovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Kopitovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Babic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Raznatovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
J. Cadjenovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Hocko
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Simun
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
V. Cavor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
P. Anicic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
M. Mrvaljevic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
T. Djurovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Vracar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Djukanovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Dedic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Camara
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Pajovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Boljevic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Scekic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Cetkovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Kecojevic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Toskovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Babic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kairat Almaty
Sutjeska
Kairat Almaty
Sutjeska
Kairat Command the Pitch in Crucial Qualifier
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 58/100. A relentless display of possession from the home side secured a vital first-leg advantage in this tense European tie.
Early Dominance
Kairat Almaty wasted no time establishing control at Almaty Central Stadium. With the early Stakes exceptionally high in this 1st Qualifying Round, the home side dominated possession, immediately putting Sutjeska on the back foot. The visitors struggled to escape their own half, absorbing wave after wave of Kairat's 137 total attacks. Despite the overwhelming territorial control, breaking through a resolute defensive line required immense patience. Kairat's midfield dictated the tempo, utilizing their 65% possession to stretch the opposition and search for gaps. The sheer Intensity of the home side's press left Sutjeska scrambling, forced into early defensive clearances just to survive the opening exchanges.
Breaking the Deadlock
As the match progressed, the Balance of play tilted even further toward Kairat Almaty. The breakthrough came through sheer persistence, translating their offensive volume into a crucial advantage. Sutjeska, relying on sparse counter-attacks, managed to snatch a goal of their own from just two shots on target, briefly raising the Upset factor and stunning the home crowd. However, Kairat responded immediately, keeping their composure to restore the lead. The physical toll on the visitors was evident as they accumulated three yellow cards trying to stem the tide. Kairat’s constant pressure and strategic use of seven corners kept the Montenegrin side pinned in survival mode.
Advantage Almaty
The final whistle blew on a 2-1 victory that accurately reflected Kairat's statistical superiority. While Sutjeska will take a sliver of hope from their solitary away goal, the reality is they were heavily outplayed. Kairat's ability to maintain a high tempo and stifle any sustained counter-attacks suggests they have the upper hand heading into the second leg. The minimal margin of victory keeps the tie alive, but the performance at Almaty Central Stadium sends a clear warning. The home squad leaves the pitch knowing they are firmly in the driver's seat for a place in the next phase of the Champions League.
Key Questions
Who controlled possession in the match?
Kairat Almaty dominated possession with 65%, completely controlling the flow of the game at Almaty Central Stadium.
How many shots on target did Kairat have?
Kairat Almaty registered 5 shots on target from a total of 10 attempts during their offensive barrage.
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.
Long Road Begins as Kairat Host Sutjeska
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 18/100. An early qualifying clash where the fear of elimination easily overshadows any attacking ambition.
The Setup
The journey toward European group stage football starts here, but do not expect a classic under the lights at Almaty Central Stadium. Kairat Almaty welcome Sutjeska for this first-leg qualifier on July 08, 2026. A modest Stakes rating reflects the reality of a 1st Qualifying Round tie—vital for the clubs involved, but lacking the broader appeal of the later stages. Both sides bring sluggish Form into this contest, and a severe lack of Stars means the match is likely to be a grueling midfield battle. Kairat will look to D. Satpaev and V. Gromyko to string passes together, but creating clear-cut chances will be exceptionally difficult.
Key Battle
With O. Arad pulling strings for the hosts, the defining clash happens in the middle of the park. Sutjeska's midfield unit must disrupt Kairat's rhythm and close down passing lanes. Neither side has the attacking firepower to overwhelm the other, making this a genuine test of defensive shape against patient, albeit slow, build-up play.
Our Prediction
Expect a disjointed affair where a tight Balance rating ensures neither team runs away with it. We anticipate a cagey 1-1 draw. The visitors will sit deep and absorb pressure, while Kairat will struggle to unlock a stubborn back line, leaving everything to play for in the return leg.