A team from the border with China will play in the Champions League group. Nightmare for Europeans, forced to fly and 8,000 km
Kairat Almaty achieved the big surprise and qualified in the main group of the Champions League, after eliminating the champion of Scotland, Celtic Glasgow in the play-off. The small formation of Kazakhstan, with the lot valued by Transfermarkt at 12 million euros, obtained the tickets for the most important interclub competition in Europe, after 0-0 in both sleeves and 3-2 at the break.
Kazakhs, for the first time in the Champions League group. Photo Facebook Kairat Almaty
The Kazakh champion began the road to the Champions League since round 1, passing by Olimpija Ljubljana, after 1-1 in Slovenia and 2-0 in Kazakhstan. He lost with Kups, 0-2, but returned incredibly to return and imposed 3-0.
In the third round he made a surprise and passed by Slovan Bratislava, after the breaks. Now, Kazakhs have repeated the story and are for the first time in the Champions League group. Which translates to a nightmare for the teams with which it will play at home, given that Almaty is in the eastern end of the huge Kazakhstan.
Thus, if Real Madrid or Atletico will have to evolve in the capital of Kazakhstan, they will have to make an 8,000 -kilometer road, just taken, and still so back.
Pafos and Bodo/Glimt, in the Champions League group
Not only Kairat, he realized the surprise and qualified in the Champions League group. PAFOS (with Vlad Dragomir Basic man) eliminated Belgrade Red Star in the play-off, after 2-1 in the tour and 1-1 in the return (the Cypriot goal was scored in the 90th minute). They were added Bodo/Glimt, the Norwegians being defeated 2-1 last night in Graz, but they go to the main phase thanks to the 5-0 of the first leg.
Today, the last qualified teams are decided, after the ends of Qarabag – Ferencvaros (3-1 in the tour), Benfica – Fenerbahce (0-0), Club Brugge (3-1) and FC Cpenhaga (1-1).
