Overview

• After two 0-0 legs, Kairat won the playoff 3-2 on penalties as goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov saved three spot-kicks and Egor Sorokin converted the decisive attempt.
• It is Kairat’s first appearance in the Champions League group stage and only the second ever for a Kazakh club, following FK Astana about a decade ago.
• The club’s qualifying run included victories over Olimpija Ljubljana, KuPS and Slovan Bratislava before the playoff against Celtic.
• Almaty’s far southeastern location, roughly 6,000 kilometers from Germany near the borders with China and Kyrgyzstan, underscores the long travel some opponents could face.
• The group-stage draw is scheduled for Thursday at 18:00 in Monaco, with coverage on DAZN.