The UEFA Champions League match between FC Kairat Almaty and Real Madrid is one of the most highly-anticipated fixtures of the 2025 campaign. Set to take place on September 30, 2025, at Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan, the match will represent a milestone occasion for Kairat as they battle one of the greatest clubs in football history. In this blog, we analyze the run-up to the match in terms of events, form of teams, lineups on prediction and what the fans can look forward to in this thrilling match.

Match Information and Kickoff Time

• Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

• Time: 16:45 UTC (22:15 IST)

• Venue: Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan

• Competition: UEFA Champions League, Group Stage Round 2

This is the inaugural time FC Kairat Almaty will be hosting Real Madrid in a competitive UEFA match, and as such, it marks an historic moment for Kazakh football.

Pre-Match Schedule

September 25: Real Madrid arrive in Almaty for training and media work

September 26: Closed-door tactical session by Kairat Almaty

September 27: UEFA press conference with both managers

September 28: Final training and injury report published

September 29: Projected lineups and match preview released by large sports media

September 30: Match day starts with fan activities and real-time coverage on all platforms

Team Form and Recent Results

FC Kairat Almaty

Kairat has demonstrated strength in recent home and European matches:

• Kairat 3 – 1 Zhenis

• Sporting CP 4 – 1 Kairat

• Kairat 1 – 0 Aktobe

• Okzhetpes 0 – 1 Kairat

• Kairat 0 – 0 Celtic

After suffering a crippling defeat to Sporting CP, Kairat recovered with strong victories and a draw with Celtic, demonstrating defensive organization and tactical improvement.

Real Madrid

Los Blancos maintain their top performance in all competitions:

• Levante 1 – 4 Real Madrid

• Real Madrid 2 – 0 Espanyol

• Real Madrid 2 – 1 Marseille

• Real Sociedad 1 – 2 Real Madrid

• Real Madrid 2 – 1 Mallorca

Real Madrid comes into the game with a five-match win streak, having attacking depth and midfield dominance.

Predicted Lineups and Key Absences

Kairat Almaty

•           Unavailable Players:

o          Alexandr Zarutskiy (knock)

o          Joao Paulo (ligament injury)

o          Elder Santana (ligament injury)

o          Giorgi Zaria (knee injury)

o          Temirlan Anarbekov (broken jaw)

Kairat will be trusting their midfield unit and defense to curb Madrid’s speed.

Real Madrid

•           Unavailable Players:

o          Daniel Carvajal (suspended)

o          Antonio Rudiger (leg injury)

o          Ferland Mendy (muscle injury)

o          Trent Alexander Arnold (thigh injury)

In spite of lacking vital defenders, Real Madrid’s forward department is still powerful with Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo likely to play.

Head-to-Head History

It is the first official encounter between FC Kairat Almaty and Real Madrid within UEFA competition. Although Madrid has played various Eastern European clubs throughout history, this game represents a new era for them in continental football.

Tactical Preview and Match Expectations

Kairat will most likely employ a compact 4-4-2, looking to counter and attack set pieces. Real Madrid are likely to control the ball with a 4-3-3 formation, employing their creative midfield to target Kairat’s defense.

Key battles to look out for:

Where to Watch the Match

Supporters can view the match live on

•           UEFA official website

•           FotMob and Sofascore for live commentary and stats

•           Spanish and Kazakh broadcasters

•           Soccer streaming sites with UEFA rights

Live updates will comprise possession statistics, shot maps, xG metrics and real-time commentary.