Celtic v Kairat Almaty, Champions League Playoff – Team News, match officials and where to watch | OneFootball

Celtic face Kairat Almaty in the UEFA Champions League Playoff First Leg this evening at Celtic Park. The Scottish Champions will be looking to make significant progress in their attempt to secure their progress to the League Phase of Europe’s premier competition with a strong performance to secure a comfortable lead to take into the second leg next Tuesday.

Celtic have benefited from automatic qualification in the last two years. You have to go back until 2017, and Brendan Rodgers’ first spell, to find a UCL Playoff win. Rodgers navigated a Playoff win in 2016 against Hapoel Be’er Sheva before defeating Astana the following year. On both occasions, Celtic gained qualification due to their first leg performances, both of which were at home with Celtic scoring five times on each occasion. Brendan will be hoping that his side can take the advantage across to Kazakhstan next week.

Celtic Team News

Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay watch on during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The cash conscious Celtic board passed up the opportunity to add any more signings to their ranks ahead of tonight’s match. Therefore, it will be the same squad that has been available to the manager over the last few weeks.

Kasper Schmeichel in control as Leighton Clarkson of Aberdeen stretches for the ball during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO).

Kasper Schmeichel will return to the starting XI after Vil Sinisalo deputised successfully in the Premier Sports Cup win over Falkirk. However, the Dane will take the gloves in the matches that really matter this season and that starts tonight with a £40m bonanza on offer to the winners of this two-legged tie.

In defence, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales will likely start in the central pairing. Auston Trusty may be in with a shout, having impressed in the early stages of the season. Alistair Johnston and Kieran Tierney will start in the full back roles.

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring to give Celtic a 0-1 lead. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, 10 August 2025. Photo IMAGO/ Shutterstock, Stuart Wallace

In midfield, there is a potential headache for Brendan as Arne Engels has impressed from the bench and was also MOTM in Sandman’s Definitive Ratings from Friday night’s 4-1 win over Falkirk in the League Cup. However Benji Nygren hasn’t put a foot wrong and can help add goals, an attribute which will be needed this evening. Nygren will  be joined by Reo Hatate and the Celtic skipper Callum McGregor.

In attack, Adam Idah will likely start through the middle with Daizen Maeda and James Forrest on the flanks.

Match Officials

Tonight’s match officials are from Norway with the referee Espen Eskås being joined by his assistants Anders Olav Dale and Jan Erik Engan both running the line.  The Fourth Official is Marius Hansen Grøtta.

On VAR it’s a Dutch pairing with the  Video Assistant Referee being Dennis Higler and the Assistant Video Assistant Referee Erwin Blank, both from The Netherlands.

Kick Off Time

The game kicks off at 8pm (Celtic Park Time).

Where to Watch

Adam Idah celebrates. UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and SK Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

TNT Sports 1 will broadcast the match live with coverage starting at 7.30pm ahead of the 8pm kick-off. The match audio will also be available to listeners on BBC Scotland’s Sportsound.

Score Prediction

Celtic can make it three in a row in these type of qualifiers by scoring five goals in the first leg to make things a little more comfortable in the return. This time hopefully with the Celtic defence as strong as it is, Kasper Schmeichel can keep a clean sheet with Celtic winning 5-0.

Here’s every goal that Celtic has scored against Kazakh opposition so far, courtesy of Celtic TV. Let’s hope that we add significantly to this total this evening!

COYBIG

CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES BY DAVID POTTER, FOREWORD BY DANNY McGRAIN is published by Celtic Star Books on the fifth day of September. You can pre-order now to guarantee your copy which will be signed by Danny McGrain, while stocks last. We have LESS THAN FIFTY signed copies remaining of the ones Danny will sign next week.

And there’s another great benefit for readers who pre-order their copy of Celtic in the Eighties. You will also receive a copy of an earlier David Potter book – Celtic’ Icicle – Alec McNair – which you’ll receive for FREE when you pre-order with Celtic in the Eighties. So you get two great Celtic books by David Potter and better still the postage is only charged on one. Click on the image below to order. (Just order Celtic in the Eighties and we’ll automatically add a copy of the Alec McNair book to your order). This offer is only available for pre-ordered copies sold via Celtic Star Books.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.

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