Kazakh side Kairat Almaty are set to play hosts to 15-time European champions Real Madrid on Tuesday in Gameweek 2 of the Champions League.
Kairat Almaty are competing in the Champions League main draw for the first time after a remarkable qualifying run that saw them overcome Olimpija Ljubljana, KuPs, and Slovan Bratislava before edging Scottish champions Celtic on penalties. Their group-stage debut proved a steep learning curve, however, as they fell 4-1 to Sporting Lisbon despite Edmilson grabbing a late consolation.
Real Madrid began life under Xabi Alonso in impressive fashion, opening the season with seven straight wins across all competitions, including a 2-1 triumph over Marseille in their Champions League opener.
They maintained that momentum with victories against Espanyol and Levante, but a 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid last weekend — after leading 2-1 through goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler — brought them crashing back to earth. Alonso’s men will now look to respond in Kazakhstan and improve on last season’s patchy away form in Europe, where they recorded three wins and four defeats from seven matches. at Brentford.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Kairat Almaty vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Champions League match in the U.S.:
TV channel: N/A
Live stream: Paramount+
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in English language in the U.S. Streaming options are available on Paramount+, which offers a FREE TRIAL for new subscribers.
What time does Kairat Almaty vs. Real Madrid kick off?
This Champions League clash takes place at the Pavlodar Central Stadium in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, and kicks off on Tuesday, September 30 at 9:45 p.m. local time (ALMT).
Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Tuesday, September 30 | 12:45 p.m. |
| Central Time | Tuesday, September 30 | 11:45 a.m. |
| Mountain Time | Tuesday, September 30 | 10:45 a.m. |
| Pacific Time | Tuesday, September 30 | 9:45 a.m. |
Kairat Almaty vs. Real Madrid lineups, team news
Kairat will once again be without attacking duo Elder Santana and Joao Paulo, both sidelined long-term with ACL injuries and omitted from the squad for the league phase.
Goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov and midfielder Giorgi Zaria also remain unavailable, while Alexandr Zarutskiy faces a late fitness test to determine his involvement. Should he miss out, 18-year-old Serkhan Kalmurza will continue in goal against the 15-time European champions.
Up front, rising star Dastan Satpaev is expected to lead the line after scoring in two of his last three outings
Kairat Almaty predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Kalmurza (GK) — Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata — Kasabulat, Arad — Mrynskiy, Jorge, Gromyko — Satpaev.
Injured: Santanta (ACL) , Paulo (ACL), Anarbekov, Zaria, Zarutskiy (doubt)
Suspended: None
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are dealing with a mounting injury list ahead of the midweek clash. Right-back Dani Carvajal is ruled out for around a month with a calf issue, while Eder Militao also suffered a knock in the Madrid derby and will not travel.
Alonso is further hampered by the absences of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy, leaving his defensive options stretched. As such, Federico Valverde may have to drop into the right-back spot, with Guler starting in midfield.
Real Madrid predicted XI (4-3-3 right to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras — Tchouameni, Guler, Bellingham — Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius
Injured: Carvajal, Militao, Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Mendy
Suspended: Carvajal
Champions League fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Tuesday, September 30
- Atalanta vs. Club Brugge (12:45 p.m.)
- Kairat Almaty vs. Real Madrid (12:45 p.m.)
- Atletico Madrid vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (3 p.m.)
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham (3 p.m.)
- Chelsea vs. Benfica (3 p.m.)
- Galatasaray vs. Liverpool (3 p.m.)
- Inter Milan vs. Slavia Prague (3 p.m.)
- Marseille vs. Ajax (3 p.m.)
- Pafos FC vs. Bayern Munich (3 p.m.)
Wednesday, October 1
- Qarabag vs. FC Copenhagen (12:45 p.m.)
- Union SG vs. Newcastle United (12:45 p.m.)
- Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid (3 p.m.)
- Arsenal vs. Olympiacos (3 p.m.)
- AS Monaco vs. Manchester City (3 p.m.)
- Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain (3 p.m.)
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. PSV Eindhoven (3 p.m.)
- Borussia Dortmund vs. Athletic Club (3 p.m.)
- Napoli vs. Sporting (3 p.m.)
- Villarreal vs. Juventus (3 p.m.)