In a Champions League qualifying first round match, NK Olimpija Ljubljana will face Kairat at Stadion Stozice on Tuesday. Olimpija topped the Slovenian top division last season, while Kairat won the 2024 Kazakhstan Premier League title.
Olimpija’s defense was solid last season, conceding just 20 goals. However, they struggled towards the end of the campaign, failing to win six of their last seven games. They have been strong at home, winning nine of their last 12 matches at Stadion Stozice.
Kairat currently sit second in their domestic league and arrive for the match on the back of three straight clean sheets. They are unbeaten in their last five games, winning four of them.
Olimpija are likely to field Marcel Ratnik and Ahmet Muhamedbegovic in defense, with Matevz Vidovsek in goal. Diogo Pinto, Peter Agba, and Agustin Doffo could form the midfield trio, while Rada Boultam and Marko Brest may provide support on the flanks for striker Alex Matthias Tamm.
Kairat may line up with Aleksandr Shirobokov and Egor Sorokin in defense, with Adilet Sadybekov and Olzhas Baybek in midfield. Ricardinho is expected to lead the line, supported by Jug Stanojev, Jorge Gabriel Costa Monteiro, and Ramazan Bagdat.
Despite Kairat’s recent good form, Olimpija should be considered favorites due to their strong home record. A home win is the likely outcome according to ZetBet with odds of 29/50.
