Kairat Almaty is a historic club in Kazakhstan which, despite not being a top-level rival in Europe, has managed to attract some prominent figures from international football throughout its history.

On Tuesday, 30 September at 18:45 CET, Rafael Urazbakhtin's team will host Real Madrid in a historic UEFA Champions League match to be played at the Central Stadium in Almaty, which has a capacity of 23,000 spectators.

Xabi Alonso's squad arrived in Almaty on Monday after travelling almost 7,000 kilometres, preparing for a match that is special for the host club.

This match marks the first time that Los Blancos have played an official Champions League match on Asian soil, although it is not the first time that Real Madrid have played in Asia.

Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup in the finals held in Tokyo in 1998 and Yokohama in 2002, although on those occasions they did not face opponents from the Asian continent.

Andrei Arshavin

A forward renowned for his quality and vision, he was an iconic figure in Russia and played four seasons at Kairat after excelling at Zenit and Arsenal, bringing experience and talent to the Asian team.

Arshavin

Vagner Love

He is a Brazilian striker known for his career in multiple countries, including Brazil, Turkey, Russia, and China. The Brazilian striker scored 27 goals in his three seasons with Kairat, leaving an unforgettable impact.

Vagner Love

Anatoliy Tymoschuk

A Ukrainian midfielder with a long career that began at Shakhtar Donetsk, followed by spells at Zenit and Bayern Munich. Tymoschuk played more than 100 matches for these three teams, as well as for the Ukrainian national team.

Cesar Arzo

A Spanish defender who began his career at Villarreal in La Liga and has extensive experience in the Spanish Second Division, he joined Kairat in 2015 and brought strength and security to the back line during his time at the club.

Macky Bagnack

Bagnack is one of the most interesting cases, as he is a product of Barcelona's prestigious La Masia academy and was a player for Barca B. He was a standout among the promising players who passed through Kairat, demonstrating the quality of his training. The Catalan giants brought him to Barcelona from the Eto'o Foundation.

The arrival and passage of these five footballers with such diverse profiles have enriched the history and evolution of the team in recent decades. Kairat Almaty has grown considerably, winning national titles and proudly representing Kazakhstan in European competitions, and now hopes to upset Real Madrid in Europe's top competition to be back in the spotlight on the international stage.

Macky Bagnack

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