Real Madrid faces one of those Champions League fixtures no big club really wants: a nearly 7,000-kilometer trip to Almaty to take on debutants Kairat. The game comes in the middle of a decisive week in LaLiga, with matches against Atlético Madrid and Villarreal, and just days after suffering a heavy derby defeat.

How Does Real Madrid Arrive?

Xabi Alonso’s team collapsed at the Metropolitano (5-2) after opening the season with a perfect run of victories. They also struggled in their European debut, narrowly beating Olympique de Marseille amid controversy at the Bernabéu. Now, Los Blancos need a convincing win to restore confidence.

Injuries continue to complicate Alonso’s planning: Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Militão, and Mendy are all unavailable, forcing emergency solutions in defense. One possibility is shifting Fede Valverde to right-back, despite his public resistance to the role, or turning to academy product David Jiménez.

Up front, Rodrygo is expected to feature in order to give Vinícius Jr. some rest, while Jude Bellingham may remain in the starting lineup to regain rhythm after looking short of form in the derby.

What to Expect From Kairat?

For the Kazakh club, this is the biggest match in their history after eliminating Celtic in the playoff round. They fell 4-1 to Sporting Lisbon in their group-stage debut but now return home with the support of their fans and the benefit of a full week’s rest.

One player to watch is Dastán Satpáyev, nicknamed the “Kazakh Lamine,” who, at just 17, was already signed by Chelsea and has scored ten goals in the domestic league. However, Kairat faces a dilemma in goal, with 18-year-old Kalmurza set to start between the posts.

When Is the Match in the U.S.?

The clash between Kairat Almaty and Real Madrid will be played on Wednesday, October 1 at 12:45 PM ET at the Central Stadium of Almaty.

With long-distance travel, altitude, and poor pitch conditions as added factors, Real Madrid will have to show character to avoid slipping up on their European path.