Champions League
2025-07-08 - Olimpia Ljubljana vs Kairat Almaty
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football : Europe: Champions League Qualifying 1st leg
Venue: Stozice Stadium
Tuesday 8th July 2025, 1800hrs (GMT)
Slovenian hosts Olimpija Ljubljana will open their competitive season with this upcoming 1st leg tie of the Champions League qualifying round with an encounter against Kazakhstan outfit Kairat Almaty and the hosts will hold home advantage at their Stozice Stadium on Tuesday night.
Olimpija claimed the Slovenian top flight title at the end of the last domestic campaign as Víctor Sánchez’s side held a commanding seven-point cushion above runners-up Maribor and the hosts’ pre-season has gone well so far as well.
Wins against Vardar, Vllaznia and CSKA Sofia will give Olimpija Ljubljana plenty of confidence for this upcoming European tie especially as the hosts are unbeaten in their last four home games, picking up three wins in the process.
The wider picture shows Olimpija finished last season’s Parva Liga campaign with a commanding home record standing at 12-4-2 40/8.
The Kazakhstan Premier League is in full-swing and Kairat Almaty are currently top of the domestic top flight table where they possess a two-point lead over 2nd placed Astana as the visitors now turn their attentions to this 1st leg tie at the Stozice Stadium.
Kairat Almaty bring a solid looking five-game unbeaten sequence in the Kazakhstan Premier League into this European tie having recorded important wins against Aktobe, Kyzylhar, Ordabasy and Turan respectively, so they too will feel they have legitimate claims on gaining a result on Tuesday night.
In addition, an away record in the domestic top tier that currently stands at 6-3-1 18/9 further boosts their chances of producing a positive result against Olimpija Ljubljana.
The Betting Verdict
Kairat Almaty have progressed through to the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League only once and with home advantage behind them, Olimpija look the more likely to take the honours in this 1st leg.
The Pick :
Olimpia Ljubljana 2-1 Kairat Almaty
