UEFA Champions League Gameweek 1
Sporting CP 4 - 1 FT Kairat Almaty
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Jorginho 39'
44' Trincao (G. Kochorashvili)
HT
61' ↓ L. Suarez ↑F. Ioannidis
61' ↓ G. Kochorashvili ↑H. Morita
61' ↓ P. Goncalves ↑Alisson Santos
65' Trincao (I. Fresneda)
65' ↓ M. Araujo ↑Matheus Reis
67' Alisson Santos (G. Quenda)
68' G. Quenda
69' Geovany Quenda
↓ E. Tapalov ↑J. Stanojev 70'
↓ O. Arad ↑Edmilson Santos 70'
70' ↓ M. Hjulmand ↑Z. Debast
↓ D. Kasabulat ↑A. Sadybekov 75'
79' Zeno Debast
↓ A. Mrynskiy ↑Ricardinho 81'
↓ L. Mata ↑L. Kurgin 81'
Edmilson Santos (Ricardinho) 86'
Dastan Satpaev 90'+2
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sporting CP
Goalkeepers
João Virgínia 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Iván Fresneda 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
50%
Pass Acc
Eduardo Quaresma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gonçalo Inácio 
MAGNET
88
Activity
88
Activity
78
Passes
10
Duels
Maximiliano Araújo 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Morten Hjulmand
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
46%
Pass Acc
Giorgi Kochorashvili 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.7
Rating
Geovany Quenda 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Francisco Trincão 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
9.6
Rating
Pedro Gonçalves 
DRIBBLER
7
Dribbles
7
Dribbles
8
Attempts
88%
Success %
Forwards
Luis Suárez 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
BENCH
Diego Callai 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matheus Reis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Zeno Debast
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Georgios Vagiannidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ricardo Mangas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hidemasa Morita 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
29
Minutes
6.9
Rating
João Simões
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayan Lucas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alisson Santos
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
29
Minutes
7.9
Rating
Rodrigo Ribeiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Anjos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fotis Ioannidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kairat Almaty
Goalkeepers
Sherkhan Kalmurza 
PENALTY HERO
1
Pens Saved
1
Pens Saved
4
Saves
7.9
Rating
Defenders
Erkin Tapalov
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Aleksandr Martynovich
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Egor Sorokin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luís Mata 
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
6
Duels Won
75%
Win %
Midfielders
Damir Kasabulat
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Ofri Arad
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Aleksandr Mrynskiy 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Jorge Monteiro
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Valeri Gromyko 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Dastan Satpaev
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Dias Reymov
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
B. Aldashev
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lev Kurgin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aleksandr Shirobokov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adilet Sadybekov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Olzhas Baybek
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jug Stanojev
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Edmilson 
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.7
Rating
Ricardo Viana
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
9
Minutes
6.7
Rating
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Sporting CP
Kairat Almaty
Sporting CP
Kairat Almaty
Trincao's Masterclass Sends Sporting into European Orbit
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 72/100. Sporting CP's ruthless 4-1 demolition of Kairat Almaty at Estádio José Alvalade signals their Champions League credentials are no longer theoretical—they're a genuine threat.
The Portuguese Blitzkrieg
From the opening whistle, Intensity flooded the Estádio José Alvalade. Francisco Trincao wasn't merely playing; he was conducting a masterclass in ruthlessness. His brace—the first arriving in the 44th minute off an assist from G. Kochorashvili, the second a clinical finish in the 65th after Ivan Fresneda's cutback—framed a performance of surgical precision. Sporting controlled 64% possession and unleashed 21 shots, turning the Kazakh visitors into spectators in their own nightmare.
The Turning Point: Minutes 65-68
This wasn't a match; it was a coronation. Three goals in four minutes between the 65th and 68th minutes shattered any Balance Kairat might have mustered. Geovany Quenda, the 17-year-old sensation, orchestrated the chaos—first threading Alisson Santos through in the 67th, then finishing his own counterattack in the 68th. The Stakes were no longer in question; Sporting's dominance was total, suffocating, inevitable. Kairat's sole consolation came late when Edmilson Santos converted in the 86th, courtesy of Ricardinho's assist—a goal that merely softened the scoreline's brutality.
The Data Verdict
Sporting's 4.25 xG versus Kairat's 0.70 told the story of a mismatch. Eight shots on target against four. Eighty-six percent pass accuracy versus 75%. This wasn't luck or fortune—it was superior execution meeting tactical clarity. Kairat, arriving with respectable form (three wins in seven), simply couldn't compete with a side operating at peak Intensity. Trincao's 9.6 rating and Quenda's all-around brilliance (8.6 rating, goal and assist) epitomized Sporting's European ambitions materializing before our eyes.
Key Questions
What made Francisco Trincao the Man of the Match?
Two clinical finishes, two key passes, and relentless positioning. Trincao's 9.6 rating reflected a performance that controlled Sporting's dominance from midfield through the final third.
What caused the five-goal thriller?
Sporting's overwhelming midfield control (64% possession, 21 shots) overwhelmed Kairat's defensive structure. Three goals in four minutes exposed tactical fragility and clinical finishing.
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.
Survival Instincts at the Alvalade
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 10/100. This match is a high-pressure scramble for points as Kairat Almaty fights to avoid an early exit from the European stage while Sporting CP aims to cement their place in the knockout rounds.
The Setup
As the UEFA Champions League league stage enters a critical phase on September 18, 2025, Sporting CP welcomes Kairat Almaty to the Estádio José Alvalade. The hosts currently sit 14th, well within the playoff line but far from the safety of the top-8 direct qualification spots. Their Balance has been tested recently, but they remain heavy favorites against a side that has struggled to adapt to the elite level. For Kairat Almaty, the Stakes could not be higher; occupying 36th place with just one point, they are essentially playing for their continental lives.
Key Battle
The defining tactical struggle will feature Sporting’s high-pressing midfield unit against Kairat’s deep-lying defensive block. Without individual Stars dominating the spotlight, the match will be won in the half-spaces. Sporting will look to use quick vertical transitions to stretch a Kairat back line that has conceded 15 goals in six games. If the visitors cannot maintain their defensive structure for 90 minutes, the floodgates are likely to open early.
Our Prediction
Sporting CP will likely dominate possession from the opening whistle, using the width of the pitch to pull the Kazakh defense out of position. Kairat’s poor Form suggests they will struggle to create meaningful counter-attacks. We expect a professional performance from the Portuguese giants, breaking the deadlock before halftime and adding two more in a comfortable second half. A 3-0 victory keeps Sporting firmly in the hunt for the next round.