Celtic to face Kairat Almaty in the Champions League Play-offs
Kairat beat Bratislava on penalties as Celtic now face a 7000 mile round trip worth an estimated £50 million in their Champions League play-off tie.
Celtic are just 180 minutes away from playing in Europe’s elite club competition, with Kairat Almaty standing in the way of the riches of the Champions League.
Kairat held a slender 1-0 lead after the first leg in Kazakhstan thanks to a late penalty from Dastan Satpaey. Slovan Bratislava levelled the tie on aggregate through Robert Mak. Despite both teams having chances, they couldn’t be separated over two legs and through extra time so it went to penalties.
Slovan looked as if they were going through on the night, as Kairat missed the first penalty, but Slovan missed their last two spot kicks and Almaty went through 4-3.
Celtic will now face a seven thousand mile round trip to face Almaty days before the first derby game of the season at Ibrox. The first leg at home is next Wednesday with the return leg in Kazakhstan the following Tuesday.
The last competitive journey to Kazakhstan for Celtic came in the 2017/18 campaign, when Brendan Rodgers’ side beat FC Astana over two legs, winning 8-4 on aggregate despite a 4-3 defeat in the second leg, having trailed 4-1 at one stage in that game in Kazakhstan.