Kairat Almaty (home)
- Kairat Almaty have allowed five goals in their only Champions League home game so far this season (5.00 goals per game).
- Rafael Urazbakhtin’s Kairat Almaty have been much more compact, setting up in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 since the coach took over in September 2024.
- Kairat have won two of their last three home games and are in good overall form, winning three of their last five in all competitions, which is an important factor for the Kairat Almaty vs Pafos FC prediction.
Pafos FC (away)
- Pafos FC have won four of their last five games in all competitions, conceding one goal in the last two.
- Juan Carlos Carcedo, who took over at Pafos in July 2023, has set his team up to play in a flexible 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, but they have a higher tempo than Kairat, with a more aggressive pressing game and a preference for vertical attacks, which should be considered in the Kairat Almaty vs Pafos FC betting tips.
- Pafos’ lone recent away match was in the Champions League at AEK Larnaca and they won 4-2, so the evidence suggests Carcedo’s side can come out of the blocks strong in this one against Kairat’s 4-4-2.
Key Players
- Mislav Orsic, with one Champions League goal in two appearances, can provide some experience and flair up front for Pafos.
- Dastan Satpaev, who has scored five of Kairat’s last ten goals, looks likely to be their main threat on Tuesday.
- Brazilian playmaker Ricardinho has one assist in his two Champions League games this term, where he has been the chief orchestrator of their attacking moves.
- Brazilian forward Edmilson Filho has top-scored for Kairat in the Champions League with one in two.
Betting Insights
- Backing both teams to score here, at 1.85, seems good value given Pafos’ attacking form and Kairat’s defensive record on their Champions League debut; this is a central aspect of our Kairat Almaty vs Pafos FC betting tips.
- The Pafos are the slight favorites at 2.6, while Kairat are 2.7 and a draw 3.2.
Prediction
However, given Pafos’ recent attacking displays - four wins in their last five, including back-to-back wins with eight goals scored and one conceded - and Kairat’s poor form in the Champions League this campaign, we’ll edge with the Cyprus team to take all the momentum from this matchup of historically significant first appearances in the European elite.