After a clinical Anderlecht side completed a 6-0 aggregate win over Kairat Almaty in Europa League qualifying, the Kazakh team has the consolation of a place in the lesser, albeit still important, Conference League.
Unlike in the first leg played in Kazakhstan, the Belgians failed to score in the first half but won the match by the same scoreline as last week. Their three goals after the break consigned the disappointed Kairat players to the Conference League, where they will play Atalanta of Italy, Panathinaikos of Greece, Twente of the Netherlands, Universitatea Craiova of Romania, Mjällby of Sweden, and Riga of Latvia.
Some football fans, at least in England, are openly uninterested in this competition, as it is seen as a scant consolation for teams that may otherwise expect to be playing in the Champions League, but for many, it is quite an adventure, and Kairat are likely to see it as a significant opportunity.
Nevertheless, their own failure to qualify for bigger tournaments has delivered some notable opponents to this competition which is scheduled to conclude in May 2027.
Giants Ajax and Monaco will be the favourites, alongside Brighton from England and Hearts of Scotland, while some interesting smaller clubs will turn up hoping to cause some upsets. Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar are the biggest surprise, and are likely to see any points won as a great achievement.
As a team that played the Champions League last season, Kairat Almaty will doubtless enter the Conference League with the aim of reaching the last four, or better, and to this end are not likely to take any opponents lightly when the series of matches begins on 15 October.
