Kairat Almaty vs Anderlecht

Kairat Almaty host Anderlecht at their Ortalyq stadıon home on Thursday evening in the first leg of their 2026-27 UEFA Europa League play-off round tie. The winner over two legs advances to the league phase, while the defeated side drops into the Conference League league phase.

Kairat enter this fixture after dropping down from Champions League qualifying, where they fell to a 2-0 aggregate defeat against a Bulgarian side in the third round. They will look to make their 26,242-capacity home in Almaty a fortress as they aim to return to winning ways on the European stage.

Anderlecht arrive in Kazakhstan in buoyant form, unbeaten across their last five outings in all competitions. The Belgian side overcame PAOK 4-2 on aggregate in the previous round and have scored 10 goals across their four Europa League qualifying ties so far this season.

Team News and Injury Latest

Anderlecht head coach Bruno will be without several squad members for the long trip east. Defender Ilay Camara and Lucas Hey are ruled out with pre-season injuries, while Killian Sardella and Mario Stroeykens are fitness doubts for the contest. The Belgian side has also lost Thorgan Hazard, who returned to Lens after scoring 15 goals last term.

The visitors are set to be led in attack by Serbian striker Mihajlo Cvetkovic, who has already found the net in both of Anderlecht’s Europa League qualifying ties this campaign. Colin Coosemans is expected to continue in goal behind a back four of Ali Maamar, Giulian Biancone, Leo Petrot, and Ludwig Augustinsson.

No specific team news was available for Kairat ahead of the first leg.

Anderlecht Form Guide

Anderlecht’s European campaign is gathering momentum. They followed up a 4-2 aggregate success in the second qualifying round by beating PAOK 1-0 away and 3-2 at home for a 4-2 aggregate victory in the third round. Domestically, they have also started the Belgian Pro League season with a win, extending their unbeaten run to five matches across all competitions.

Key to their attacking output has been Cvetkovic, whose early goals in ties have given Bruno’s side a platform to control both legs of their qualifiers.

Kairat Almaty Form Guide

Kairat’s recent European results present a mixed picture. They squeezed through the Champions League first qualifying round on penalties despite losing both legs, then fell to back-to-back 1-0 defeats in both the second and third rounds of Champions League qualifying. That sequence ended their hopes of reaching Europe’s top table and parachuted them into the Europa League play-offs, where they now face a significant test against an in-form Anderlecht side.

Key Battle: Mihajlo Cvetkovic vs Kairat’s Defence

With three goals already in this season’s Europa League qualifiers, Cvetkovic is the visitors’ most immediate threat. The Serbian striker hit double figures for Anderlecht last season and has carried that confidence into the new campaign, scoring in both legs of their previous tie. If Kairat are to take a positive result to Brussels, containing the Anderlecht number nine on home soil will be essential.

The return leg takes place in Belgium on 27 August, where the tie will be decided and a place in the Europa League league phase secured.