Sofia fortress vs Almaty grit: prediction for Levski — Kairat
The third qualifying round clash of the Champions League between Levski and Kairat is set for August 4, 2026, at Vivacom Arena Georgi Asparuhov in Sofia. The Bulgarian side will look to extend their impressive home streak, while the Almaty club faces the challenge of compensating for the absence of their top scorer.
Levski: home form becomes the main weapon
Levski come into this fixture in high spirits after a commanding 3-0 win over Septemvri. Julio Velázquez’s men have won all three of their opening Bulgarian league matches and have already seen off Borac (aggregate 5-1) and Universitatea Craiova (3-2) in Champions League qualifying.
Before the clash with Kairat, the coaching staff gave several key players a rest: Kristiyan Dimitrov remained on the bench, while Mehdi Mubarak, Armstrong Oko-Flex, Everton Bala, and Serginho only came on as substitutes. The Sofia side have looked especially solid at home, winning all four matches this season—including European outings against Borac and Universitatea.
Kairat: Jorginho’s absence weakens the attack
Kairat are also in fine form, with nine wins in their last ten games. In the previous round, Rafael Urazbakhtin’s team overcame Omonia: after a 0-1 away loss, the Almaty side won by the same scoreline at home and then held their nerve in the penalty shootout.
The visitors’ main issue remains the absence of Jorginho, who netted nine goals before suffering a cruciate ligament tear against Ordabasy. Kairat didn’t play in the league over the weekend, giving them extra time to recover, though the long break after their grueling series with Omonia could affect their match rhythm.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Levski have won all four of their home matches this season.
- Kairat have claimed victory in nine of their last ten outings.
- In four of Levski’s last five and in Kairat’s last three Champions League matches, at least one team failed to score.
The Sofia crowd could prove decisive: Levski — Kairat prediction
Levski look far more convincing on their own turf, where they play with more courage and make the most of the pressure on their opponents. The freshness of their key players and the backing of a packed stadium should give the hosts the upper hand from the opening whistle.
Kairat are capable of putting up a fight thanks to their strong form and resilience, as they showed against Omonia. However, the absence of Jorginho reduces their attacking threat, so the slight edge remains with the Bulgarian side.
