Champions League - Home Teams Push for Breakthrough Success on Matchday 2
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Kairat Almaty vs Real Madrid: The Kazakhstan underdogs are aiming for the impossible
- Date and Time: 30 September, 17:45 (BST)
- Venue: Ortalyq Stadion, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan.
Debutants Kairat Almaty had a tough introduction in their UEFA Champions League opener. Last Thursday, the club from Kazakhstan was drawn against Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.
The mismatch on paper was evident as they suffered their first defeat of the tournament after being on the receiving end of a 4-1 scoreline away from home.
Pressure remains high for head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin and his charges as they face another determined challenger in Real Madrid. The Spanish team won their opening UCL match 2-1 at home against a stiff Marseille. Our SportyTrader betting experts are certain they have what it takes to secure their second consecutive win. Let's find out what they have to say in our Kairat Almaty vs Real Madrid prediction.
In Los Blancos' mind, however, this should be a routine win. However, their goal reaches past that point, considering they have found the perfect candidate for their built-up tension.
On Saturday, the embarrassment they suffered at the hands of local rivals Atletico Madrid was too much to bear. They were outplayed 5-2 on the road.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool: The Reds are struggling on the road
- Date and Time: 30 September, 20:00 (BST)
- Venue: RAMS Park, Istanbul, Turkey.
Galatasaray stepped inside the Deutsche Bank Park, holding the heart of a lion in the UEFA Champions League opener against 2021-22 Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.
Their boisterous supporters were hoping for a positive result from their team, but a 5-1 defeat meant that was not happening. Some were not surprised by the outcome, considering Gala's struggles on the road in European competitions (D3, L3) before the forgettable match. With home advantage at their disposal, can they deliver a convincing performance? Check out our Galatasaray vs Liverpool prediction for more insights and analysis on this match.
Liverpool might be feeling down heading into this clash after their perfect start to the 2025-26 English Premier League came to an end over the weekend. A 2-1 away defeat against Crystal Palace ended a five-match winning streak.
As crushing as it may be, attention turns to their UEFA Champions League campaign. The Reds began on a positive note, beating Atletico Madrid in a nail-biting 3-2 home victory.
Arne Slot's men are aiming for their second consecutive win, but know such a feat won't come on a silver platter. Their away record against teams from Turkey has left much to be desired. Only one win has been recorded in their last six travels (D1, L4).
Atletico Madrid vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Frankfurt are out to cause havoc on foreign territory
- Date and Time: 30 September 2025, 20:00 (BST)
- Venue: Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain.
Atletico Madrid is in a very jubilant mood after downing Real Madrid 5-2 on matchday seven of La Liga over the weekend.
Rojiblancos are going to use that outcome as a springboard to register their first win in the UEFA Champions League. Diego Simeone's charges were outplayed in a 3-2 away defeat against Liverpool in the opener.
Their record against teams from Germany has been decent but not good enough. Having crossed paths with teams from this category 53 times, 24 of those outings resulted in victory (D9, L20).
Eintracht Frankfurt have been given the title of underdogs on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League campaign. This definitely comes as a surprise to some associated with the team after seeing their side manhandled Galatasaray in a 5-1 home victory.
The Eagles currently sit atop the UEFA Champions League league phase. Will the German side be able to cement its position by causing an upset this Tuesday? Head over to our Atletico Madrid vs Eintracht Frankfurt prediction to get more details.
This is not the first time Dino Toppmoller’s men have faced Atletico Madrid, but the third time. You will have to go back to the 1975-76 season when they won both matches 2-1 on the road and 1-0 at home in the Round of 16 of the Cup Winners' Cup.
