Real Madrid delivered a dominant performance to secure a 5-0 away victory over Kairat. Although the hosts started aggressively with high pressing and created several dangerous chances in the opening 10 minutes, the class and composure of Los Blancos soon shone through.
In the 24th minute, Franco Mastantuono was fouled inside the box, earning Real Madrid a penalty. From the spot, Kylian Mbappe calmly converted, relieving the pressure for the Spanish giants.
After the opening goal, Real took control of the match, constantly threatening with the mobility of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Guler. However, the first half ended with only one goal scored.
Mbappe shines brightly (Photo: Reuters).
In the second half, Real Madrid’s power was unleashed with a flurry of goals. In the 52nd minute, Courtois launched a pinpoint long ball that allowed Mbappe to sprint past the defense and double the lead. Just over 20 minutes later, the French superstar completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute with a clinical finish to make it 3-0.
In the closing minutes, the substitutes also made their mark. Rodrygo set up Camavinga for a header in the 83rd minute before Brahim Diaz sealed the 5-0 win in stoppage time (90+3).
The draw had pitted Kairat Almaty against Real Madrid in the group stage of the 2025-26 Champions League, creating one of the most anticipated clashes. In the locker room, coach Rafael Urazbakhtin and his players celebrated joyfully, as it marked the first time in history that a Kazakhstani club had the chance to face Europe’s “King of Football.”
Although Real Madrid were heavily favored, their trip to Almaty was far from easy. The 15-time Champions League winners had just suffered a shocking 2-5 defeat to Atletico Madrid, surrendering the top spot in La Liga while also losing two key defenders, Militao and Carvajal. Alongside earlier injuries to Mendy, Rudiger, and Alexander-Arnold, coach Xabi Alonso found himself without any natural right-backs and lacking his preferred center-back pairing.
Moreover, the 12-hour flight from Madrid to Kazakhstan drained the squad’s energy, with only a day of preparation adding to their difficulties. Meanwhile, Kairat Almaty enjoyed home advantage, a relaxed mindset, and the support of tens of thousands of fans.
Still, with their experience and pedigree, Real Madrid remained in control. Yet given their depleted squad and fragile morale, the possibility of struggling against Kairat Almaty was not entirely out of the question.