The 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League play-off round kicks off with a highly anticipated first-leg clash as Scottish champions Celtic host Kazakh champions Kairat at Celtic Park. Both teams are just two matches away from securing a place in the prestigious group stage of the competition.
Match Details:
CompetitionDateKick-off (ET)VenueUEFA Champions League Play-offsAugust 20, 20251:00 PMCeltic Park, Glasgow, Scotland
Team Form and Analysis:
Celtic enters this match on a high note in European competition, having progressed through the previous qualifying rounds with convincing performances. While they recently suffered a 2-1 defeat in their domestic league, their European form has been excellent, including a dominant 3-0 victory in their last home qualifier. Under the guidance of their manager, the team has shown a strong attacking style and will be looking to leverage their home advantage.
Kairat, meanwhile, has also had a strong start to their European campaign, winning all four of their previous qualifying matches. The team has shown excellent form both at home and on the road, with an impressive win over their last opponent. This match will be a crucial test for them to demonstrate their tactical discipline and resilience against a tough opponent. They will be looking to secure a positive result in the first leg to take back to Baku for the return fixture.
Head-to-Head:
The only previous UEFA matches between these two teams were in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. In that encounter, Kairat progressed to the play-off round with a 4-2 aggregate victory (1-1 at home, 3-1 away), giving them a psychological advantage.
Celtic vs Kairat: Head-to-Head Stats (Last 2 Competitive Matches)
CelticKairatWins01Draws11Goals Scored24
Player to Watch:
Celtic: The home team will rely on key attacking players, especially Barnabas Varga, who has been in prolific goal-scoring form in European competition this season.
Kairat: The focus for Kairat will be on their key attacking players who can provide a creative spark and find the back of the net.
Prediction:
Given their strong home form in European competitions, Celtic is the slight favorite to win this match. However, Kairat’s perfect record in this season’s qualifying matches and their historical advantage over Celtic make them a dangerous opponent. A close game is anticipated, but a narrow victory for Celtic is the most likely outcome.
Live Stream and TV Broadcast:
You can watch the Celtic vs Kairat match live on the following platforms, subject to availability in your region:
USA: Paramount+, ViX, Disney+
Other Regions: beIN Sports, DAZN
Mobile & PC | Auto Quality
Mobile & PC | Auto Quality
