The second leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round between Sutjeska and Kairat will take place on July 15, 2026, at the City Stadium in Nikšić. Following a hard-fought 2-1 victory in Almaty, the Kazakh club will look to finalize their advantage, while the Montenegrin champions aim to snap a painful losing streak.

Sutjeska: Struggling Form Leaves No Room for Error

Sutjeska enter this critical home leg in poor shape, suffering five consecutive defeats across friendlies and domestic matches. Over this period, they have struggled offensively, scoring only three goals while conceding nine. In the first leg, they were pinned back for most of the match but managed to steal a late lifeline through Marko Mrvaljevic’s 90th-minute strike.

Despite a major squad overhaul in the transfer market, manager Milorad Peković continues to lean heavily on his experienced core, including Vasilije Cavor and Vladan Giljen. Historical stats are also stacked against the hosts: Sutjeska have only advanced past a European tie once out of eight previous attempts after losing the first leg.

Kairat: Attacking Prowess and Match Sharpness Give the Edge

In stark contrast to their opponents, Kairat are flying high under Rafael Urazbakhtin, entering the second leg on a five-match winning streak. In the opening leg, they dominated possession and fired 15 shots, though defensive lapses and wastefulness in front of goal kept the aggregate score close.

Upfront, Kairat will lean on Jorginho and Marc Gual, who has been in clinical form with three goals and two assists in his last five appearances. Ismail Bekbolat is another highly dangerous option off the bench, providing consecutive assists in his recent outings. Even with veteran defender Alexander Martynovich doubtful due to injury, Alexandr Shirobokov is well-equipped to marshal the defense.

Key Match Stats & Head-to-Head

• Sutjeska have suffered defeats in each of their last five matches across all competitions.

• Kairat have won five games in a row, scoring at least two goals in every single one of those fixtures.

• Kairat Almaty won the first leg 2-1 at home on July 8, 2026.

Sutjeska vs Kairat Prediction

Sutjeska must push forward to overturn the deficit, but their current lack of cohesion and defensive vulnerability will present massive opportunities for Kairat's pacey attackers.

The Kazakh side's superior physical fitness, European experience, and lethal front line make them strong favorites to score multiple goals in Nikšić.

For continuous live updates, visit Goal.com.

Match Prediction: Kairat Almaty to Score Over 1.5 Goals.