Kazakhstan, Cyprus and Norway return to have representatives in the maximum European competition: eliminated Celtic, Red Star and Sturm Graz respectively
For the second time in the history of the UEFA Champions League, a Kazakhstan team qualifies to the main phase, first in groups, now in the championship, of the top European competition. (In 2015 Astana’s team had succeeded). In the historic Almaty night, the Kairat, the most populated city team in the country, passed the Brendan Rodgers Celtic with penalties after a double 0-0 between round trip. The 21 -year -old Temirlan Anarbekov’s hero of the evening, second goalkeeper of Kairat and author of a great performance both in the 120 minutes and from the eleven meters, where he even saved three Scottish penalty.
First times also for Pafos and Bodo
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The Kairat is not the only fairy tale of the evening. Against all prediction, the Pafos (a team founded 11 years ago and who recently contracted the 38 -year -old David Luiz) passed the red star of Krunic and Arnautovic, drawing the home challenge with a crazy goal by Jaja and reporting Cyprus in the Champions League after the 2017/2018 season (on that occasion to qualify was the Apoel Nicosia). Same destiny for Bodo Glimt, who after the quarterfinals of Conference League in 2021/2022 and the Europa League semifinal 2024/2025 finally manages to access the main phase of the most important European tournament. After the 5-0 of the first leg, which had already mortgaged the qualification, the former Milan Hauge team lost 2-1 in the home of the Sturm Graz, reporting Norway in the Champions League 18 years after the last time (Rosenborg 2007/2008).
The results of the evening
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Here are the results of the penultimate evening of the Champions League playoffs:
- Kairat-Ciltic 1-0 after the penalty kicks (0-0 in the first leg)
- Sturm graz-Bodo Glimt 2-1 (0-5 in the first leg)
- Pafos-Astella Red 1-1 (2-1 in the first leg)
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