Red Star Belgrade vs Kairat

Red Star Belgrade will try to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit when they lock horns with Kairat Almaty at the Stadion Rajko Mitic in the return leg of their Champions League qualifying tie.

Despite going down in Kazakhstan, Red Star will be confident of pulling off a second-leg comeback after successfully concluding each of their nine Champions League second-round qualifying ties in the 21st century. But their recent competitive form could pose a problem, with Dejan Stankovic’s men drawing a blank in two of their three fixtures in all competitions this term (W1, D1, L1). The reigning Serbian champions have been a force to be reckoned with at home in 2021, notably winning 13 of their 15 competitive home matches since the turn of the year (D2). Moreover, bringing the 2020/21 season into the equation, Red Star have avoided defeat in their last five European games on home soil (W3, D2), netting an intimidating average of 2.8 goals per match in the process.

On the other hand, since being held to a 1-1 away draw to Maccabi Haifa in the first leg of their Champions League first-round qualifying tie, none of Kairat’s subsequent five competitive games have ended level (W3, L2). But a lack of consistency has seen Kairat alternate between winning (2) and losing (2) across their last four outings in all competitions, with three of those results (win/loss) yielding a clean sheet. Away from home, the ‘Halyq Komandasy’ are unbeaten in six consecutive competitive fixtures (W3, D3), with each win in that sequence being accompanied by a blank sheet. However, except for a 2-1 win over Siroki Brijeg in the 2019/20 Europa League first-round qualifying, the visitors have failed to win any of their last five away European games (D1, L4).