Omonia faces Kairat in Champions League second qualifying round second leg

Omonia Nicosia arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to face Kairat in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round on July 29, 2026. The Cypriot champions enter the match with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg held at GSP Stadium. Omonia's manager Henning Berg has confirmed that his team is prepared for a difficult encounter, emphasizing the need for focus and tactical maturity to secure progression.

Due to Loic Nego's suspension following his red card in the first leg, Stefan Simic will enter the starting lineup. Additionally, Zaidan Mondor was ruled out after suffering from suspected food poisoning, leading to Michali Mayambela’s inclusion in the starting eleven. The team, which traveled six hours to reach Almaty, will rely on goalkeeper Fabiano to maintain defensive stability.

If successful, Omonia will advance to the third qualifying round to face the winner of the Levski Sofia vs. Craiova match. Conversely, elimination would see the club drop to the Europa League, where they would face Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps. The match kicks off at 18:00 local time at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion.