Sporting Lisbon vs Kairat Almaty Predictions

• Kairat scored just one goal in their last four UCL qualification fixtures combined.
• Seven of Kairat’s last eight matches in all competitions have featured one or fewer goals.
• Sporting CP have won four of their last five fixtures.

Kairat to falter on their Champions League bow

Kakutani outfit Kairat made history in the summer when they secured qualification for the Group Stage of the Champions League for the first time, though the minnows didn’t exactly make the cut in emphatic fashion.

Kairat just about edged past Slovan Bratislava and Celtic in their final two qualification rounds, coming through the penalty kick lottery on each occasion, having notched just one goal across four low-scoring games.

The solitary strike Kairat managed was also dispatched from the penalty spot in the 90^th minute by Dastan Satpaev in the first leg of their double-header against Slovan, and we don’t expect the visitors to trouble Sporting CP from open play on Thursday.

Defensively, Kairat have been a tough nut to crack, however. They conceded just one goal across their double headers with Slovan and Celtic, while seven of their last eight fixtures in all competitions have produced one or fewer goals.

Kairat know how to dig in. Despite seeing only 25% possession in Glasgow on August 20, Kairat limited Celtic to just three shots on target and just 0.56 in expected goals, so Sporting might find it tough to break them down.

Still, with Kairat looking toothless during their qualification run, backing Sporting to win to nil on Thursday holds plenty of appeal. Similarly, Kairat showed enough grit against Slovan and Celtic to suggest they can keep the score down in Portugal, so a 1-0 scoreline in favour of the hosts looks like a solid correct score wager.