Historic debut for Kazakhstan’s champions as European giants arrive in Almaty
No team in this season’s Champions League faces a tougher travel schedule—or greater odds—than Kairat Almaty. The Kazakh champions, making their debut in the competition, are set for a historic home fixture on Tuesday against 15-time winners Real Madrid at the 24,000-seater Ortalyq Stadion.
A debut under daunting circumstances
Kairat’s campaign began with a grueling 6,900km journey across three time zones for their opener against Sporting Lisbon, which ended in a 4-1 defeat. Yet the real test comes now, with Spanish giants Real Madrid flying 6,441km—about 13 hours—to reach central Asia.
“Flying to Kazakhstan is not easy,” defender Damir Kassabulat told BBC Sport. “But our home crowd makes it a fortress. With the fans behind us, we can believe.”
Almaty, closer to Beijing than Madrid, represents one of the most unusual away trips in modern European football. Since Kazakhstan joined UEFA in 2002, few clubs have had such a spotlight moment.
David vs Goliath: Kairat vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid arrive with a squad worth an estimated £1.2bn, featuring global stars like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr, and Jude Bellingham. In contrast, Kairat’s squad is valued at just £10.9m.
For club president Kairat Boranbayev, the moment transcends money:
“This is historic for Kazakh football. The whole nation is behind us. We believe we can make some noise in Europe.”
Kairat will also endure the heaviest travel load in the group stage, covering nearly 25,000km across four away matches—far more than any other team. But for manager Rafael Urazbakhtin, it is a dream, not a burden.
“It’s the toughest exam for our football, but also the reward of years of work. A dream come true.”
The Nation’s Team: Kairat’s history and pride
Founded in Soviet times, Kairat are nicknamed The Nation’s Team. They were Kazakhstan’s only representatives in the Soviet Top League between 1960 and 1991 and have since claimed four league titles and eight domestic cups.
While rivals Astana became the first Kazakh side to play in the Champions League group stage a decade ago, Kairat’s path has been longer. Their breakthrough came with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Celtic in this season’s play-offs—sparking wild celebrations across the country.
Spotlight on Satpaev: Chelsea’s new Kazakh wonderkid
Among Kairat’s rising stars, none shines brighter than 17-year-old striker Dastan Satpaev, already capped five times for Kazakhstan. The teenager is set to join Chelsea next summer in a £4m move, potentially becoming the first Kazakh player in the Premier League.
Scouted after dazzling at the Helvetia Cup in Switzerland, Satpaev impressed further with a behind-closed-doors hat-trick during a trial at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre.
This season, he has scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in 26 matches for Kairat. His pace and sharp finishing have drawn comparisons with Sergio Agüero, while his Champions League qualifying goal against Olimpija Ljubljana made him the second-youngest scorer in the competition’s history.
“God willing, I want to show Kazakhstan has talented players and to compete at the highest level,” Satpaev told BBC Sport.
Work ethic beyond his years
Coaches describe Satpaev as relentlessly committed. Manager Urazbakhtin admitted the staff sometimes had to “forbid him from training” because he would sneak back to the pitch after hours.
Chelsea scouts remain in close contact, monitoring his development before his 2025 move. For now, he continues to inspire his boyhood club while carrying the hopes of an entire nation.
A historic night awaits
For Kairat Almaty, Tuesday’s clash with Real Madrid is about more than 90 minutes of football. It represents Kazakhstan’s growing place in the European game, the pride of a nation, and the rise of a new generation led by Dastan Satpaev.
Whether or not the underdogs can upset Europe’s biggest club, they have already made history.
