Real Madrid face an historic trip to Kazakhstan on September 30 as Xabi Alonso's team take on Kairat in their second game of the UEFA Champions League first phase.
The long flight east marks Madrid's first UCL clash with a team from the Central Asian nation and the first time Kairat, who knocked out Celtic in the playoffs back in August, have played a side from Spain.
Alonso will be aiming to use the lengthy travel time to deep dive into their 5-2 weekend La Liga derby defeat to Atletico Madrid which ended his 100% start to the campaign across all competitions.
Madrid had been perfect up to that point with six wins from six in La Liga and an opening UCL victory at home to Marseille.
Kairat are currently second in the Kazakhstan Premier League — one point behind leaders Astana — and they began their first Champions League campaign with a 4-1 loss at Sporting CP this month.
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Kairat vs. Real Madrid lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Kairat did not manage to score a goal across 180 minutes of action against Celtic before edging out the Scottish champions in a penalty shootout, and midfielder Edmilson netted their sole goal in Lisbon last time out.
The 28-year-old is one of four Brazilians in the Kairat squad, and he should start alongside Jorginho against Alonso's visitors, with Joao Paulo and Elder Santana sidelined with an ACL injury.
Kairat predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Kalmurza (GK) — Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata — Edmilson, Arad — Mrynskiy, Jorginho, Gromyko — Satpayev
Injured: Joao Paulo (ACL), Santana (ACL), Zarutskiy (muscle), Anarbekov (head)
Suspended: None
Madrid's injury list has grown following the defeat to Atletico with club captain Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao joining Trent Alexander-Arnold and Antonio Rudiger on the absentee list.
That leaves Los Blancos without a senior option at right-back, with Raul Asencio expected to cover, and Aurelien Tchouameni ready to drop back and fill in for Militao. Ferland Mendy is back in training but not yet ready to return.
Alonso is otherwise expected to shuffle his options across the board. Jude Bellingham may not be risked with successive starts as he recovers from shoulder surgery, and Eduardo Camavinga could come in.
Real Madrid predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Asencio, Tchouameni, Huijsen, Carreras — Valverde, Camavinga — Mastantuono, Guler, Vinicius Junior — Mbappe
Injured: Carvajal (calf), Alexander-Arnold (hamstring), Rudiger (hamstring), Militao (ankle), Mendy (fitness)
Suspended: None
Kairat vs. Real Madrid match details
- Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8:15 p.m. local / 11:15 a.m. ET/ 8:15 a.m. PT / 1:15 a.m. AET (October 1)
- Location: Ortalyq Stadion, Pavlodar (Kazakhstan)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase matchday two
- Referee: Marco Guida (ITA)
- VAR: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Real Madrid news and related links
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