The evening before the crucial Champions League match in Almaty turned out to be truly special for the Madrid footballers. The team arrived in Kazakhstan to face Kairat and was met with a surprise right at the airport: hundreds of fans had gathered to welcome their idols. The atmosphere was reminiscent of a real football celebration, with emotions running high in the air.
Federico Valverde, the midfielder for the Spanish club, did not hide his amazement at such a reception. According to him, seeing so many devoted fans far from Madrid was both unexpected and very gratifying. Supporters put on quite a show, shouting the players’ names and waving flags. For the team, it was a strong boost after their recent derby loss, when they were defeated by Atlético by a large margin.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso noted that the team had prepared seriously for the upcoming match. In his view, the venue makes no difference—the goal is always the same: to win. The Spaniards have already opened the tournament with a home victory over French side Olympique de Marseille, and now aim to build on that success and collect three more points.
The opponent – Kairat – has already proven itself in matches against strong European clubs. Although the Kazakh team lost to Sporting from Portugal, they demonstrated good physical condition and team cohesion. The Madrid staff have carefully studied their opponent’s play to avoid underestimating them. This is a historic moment for Kairat: the club has become the second team from Kazakhstan to reach the main stage of the Champions League, after Astana did so in 2015.
The match in Almaty promises to be intense and spectacular. Kickoff is scheduled for 19:45 Moscow time. Football fever in Kazakhstan seems to be just heating up, while the Spanish visitors have already felt the full force of the local support.
