The hosts are chasing an upset. Prediction for the Kairat vs Anderlecht match
In the first leg of the Europa League's final qualifying round, Kairat will face Anderlecht. The match will take place in Almaty on Thursday, August 20, with kickoff at 17:00 Central European Time. I'm suggesting a bet on the scoring potential in this game.
H2H and key stats
- Kairat have lost only two home games in 2026.
- The Kazakh side failed to score in two of their last three matches.
- Anderlecht have not scored more than one goal away from home in their last seven matches.
- These teams have never met before.
The Almaty club began their current European campaign in the Champions League qualifiers. In the first round, Kairat made light work of Montenegrin side Sutjeska. Next up was Cyprus's Omonia: the Kazakh club lost 0-1 in the first leg but responded at home with a win by the same scoreline and advanced on penalties — 6-5.
The third qualifying round of the Champions League proved to be Kairat's last stop. The Almaty side were beaten twice by Levski, both times by a 0-1 scoreline. As a result, the team have already played six European matches this summer, giving them valuable experience ahead of their clash with Anderlecht.
Domestically, Kairat are also looking strong. The team remains in the title race and currently trail leaders Ordabasy by four points with a game in hand. Ahead of this crucial European fixture, Kairat defeated Ulytau, putting an end to a losing streak.
Kairat's main advantage remains their home ground. The team have already shown in this European campaign that they can cause problems for any opponent. Levski may have taken a win from Kazakhstan, but the match was fiercely contested.
Anderlecht arrive at the final Europa League qualifying round after successfully navigating two earlier stages. The Belgians first faced Hammarby, coming out on top 4-2 on aggregate, with two late goals in the second leg sealing the deal.
In the third round, Anderlecht faced PAOK. The first match in Thessaloniki ended 0-1, and the Belgians followed up with another victory to secure progression. Anderlecht have not lost in regulation time in European competition this season, highlighting their solid tournament form.
However, Anderlecht's domestic league start has been far less convincing. After a hard-fought comeback win over La Louvière, they unexpectedly slipped up against Beveren, losing 0-1.
Even so, Anderlecht's experience remains a major asset for the visitors. The Belgian club are regulars in European competition and boast a deeper squad than Kairat. However, the congested schedule at the start of the new campaign is starting to take its toll: in recent weeks, the team has played several official matches in both the Europa League and the domestic league.
What’s the bet?
Overall, the pre-match outlook appears quite balanced. Anderlecht have a stronger European pedigree and have already come through two Europa League rounds, but Kairat have home advantage, are performing more consistently in their domestic league, and have gained invaluable experience from the Champions League qualifiers. The first leg in Almaty could be decisive: if the hosts manage to keep a clean sheet, their chances of progressing will rise significantly ahead of the return leg. My bet: Anderlecht to win with a 0 handicap.
