Kairat Almaty hosts Real Madrid today at Ortalyq Stadion in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in a Champions League group stage match in a historic night for the Kazakh champions.
Real Madrid arrives under pressure after a 5–2 derby defeat to Atlético Madrid, raising questions about their defensive depth. Manager Xabi Alonso is forced into a makeshift back line, with Marco Asensio deployed at right back and youngster Dean Huijsen starting in central defense.
In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni anchors alongside Dani Ceballos and Arda Güler, providing balance but less drive than if Jude Bellingham were starting. The attacking spotlight falls firmly on Vinícius Júnior, wearing the captain’s armband, and Kylian Mbappé, who will look to stretch Kairat’s defense with pace and movement.
For Kairat, this is their first-ever Champions League group stage home match. They earned their place with a strong qualifying run but fell 4–1 to Sporting Lisbon on Matchday 1.
Several regulars — including Elder Santana, João Paulo, Temirlan Anarbekov, and Giorgi Zaria — remain unavailable, limiting their options. Young forward Dastan Satpaev is expected to lead the line and carry the hopes of the home crowd.
Starting Lineups
Kairat Almaty
Kalmurza; Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata; Arat, Kasabulat, Mrynskiy, Jorginho; Gromyko, Satpaev
Subs: Pokatilov, Zarutskiy, Orynbasarov, Sagnayev, Smakov, Turysbek, Ademi, Alip, Shushenachev
Real Madrid
Courtois; Asensio, Huijsen, Alaba, Fran García; Tchouaméni, Ceballos; Arda Güler, Mastantuono; Vini Jr. (c), Mbappé
Subs: Lunin, Javi Navarro, Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Endrick, Rodrygo, Gonzalo, A. Carreras, Brahim, D. Jiménez
Head-to-Head
This is the first-ever meeting between Kairat Almaty and Real Madrid.
Prediction
Kairat will push hard in their historic home debut, but Madrid’s quality in attack should prevail even with defensive absences. Expect Mbappé and Vinícius to play decisive roles.
Projected Score: Real Madrid 3, Kairat Almaty 1
How to Watch Kairat Almaty vs. Real Madrid
Today’s match is set to start at 12:45 PM Eastern at Ortalyq Stadion in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The match airs live exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States. Paramount+ plans start at $7.99/month, but you can watch the match for free by signing up for a free trial here.
Kairat Almaty vs. Real Madrid
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time: 12:45 PM Eastern
Venue: Ortalyq Stadion, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Streaming: Paramount+
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