KuPS vs Kairat: UEFA Champions League Prediction (22.07.2025)

On Tuesday, July 22 at 22:00 WIB, KuPS Kuopio will host Kairat Almaty at Savon Sanomat Areena in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League 2025–2026 qualification clash. The Finnish side won their national league title in 2024 and advanced past Moldova’s Milsami in the previous round thanks to a single goal. The visitors are also domestic champions of 2024, having defeated Slovenia’s Olimpija Ljubljana in the first qualifying round.

In the opening match between KuPS and Kairat, bookmakers offer nearly even odds. A home win is priced at 2.57, a draw at 3.15, and an away win at 2.90. However, for overall qualification, the Kazakh club is seen as the favorite. A bet on KuPS advancing is priced at 2.40, while Kairat progressing is at 1.57. Analysts do not expect a high-scoring game: over 2.5 goals is priced at 2.24, while both teams to score stands at 1.89.

KuPS

Jarkko Wiss took over the team at the start of the new season in January 2025. Currently, KuPS sits third in the national standings but remains in the title race. The matches against modest Milsami highlighted how difficult it is for KuPS to break down tightly packed defenses. Neither the forward line nor the midfield boasts players with the creativity or technical ability to create consistent chances. In the ongoing Veikkausliiga season, the “Canaries” also struggle to score, averaging just 1.69 goals per game — the lowest among the top five Finnish teams.

Kairat

Rafael Urazbakhtin’s team has been more efficient in front of goal in this year’s Kazakhstan Premier League. Up front, Portuguese player Jorginho and young local talent Dastan Satpayev have stood out. Satpayev, already linked to Chelsea’s youth setup, scored in the away leg against Olimpija, while Jorginho opened the scoring in the return fixture. Expectations are also high for new signing Edmilson, a Brazilian center-forward. However, he is still adjusting to the team and adapting to his new surroundings.

Stats and Head-to-Head Record

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in European competition.

Prediction

The hosts shouldn’t be underestimated. KuPS play a disciplined, albeit defensive, style of football. However, Kairat has an impressive attacking line, so the prediction is for Kairat to avoid defeat, priced at 1.51.