Champions League: Almaty vs Club Brugge! Minus 16 degrees and artificial turf, can the away team handle it calmly?

Our first topic today is aboutthe Champions League: Almaty Kairat vs Club Brugge!

Today’s coldest match isn’t Haaland playing Man City in the Arctic Circle; there it’s only about 0 degrees, which is tolerable.

This match will be even colder — the temperature in the Astana area is forecasted to be around minus 16 degrees, which is quite intimidating.

But such extreme cold in Kazakhstan might actually be advantageous for Club Brugge.

If UEFA allowed Almaty to host Champions League matches at home, that would be unbeatable: extreme cold, high altitude, artificial turf, plus the super long travel distance could become a nightmare for any visiting team.

Fortunately, UEFA does not allow that. Playing in such cold conditions would make normal football impossible.

Therefore, this match will be held in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.

Although Astana is also cold, the stadium there is very advanced, built specifically to withstand Kazakhstan’s harsh winters. It is FIFA-certified as a “fully climate-controlled” stadium. The roof can be closed and there is heating, so the temperature during the game is expected to be around 6 degrees, which is almost the same as playing in Belgium for Club Brugge, making it easier to adapt.

And about the artificial turf, Club Brugge might be quite accustomed to it.

Since 2015, Club Brugge has used hybrid grass at home, and their youth training grounds also have artificial turf, so they are relatively familiar with it.

In recent years, we have seen Club Brugge play in some unusual away venues, such as Akureyri in Iceland and Helsinki in Finland, both with artificial turf, yet Club Brugge still achieved big wins.

As for the long journey? Club Brugge has actually prepared thoroughly.

Because in November last year, the Belgian national team played a World Cup qualifier at this stadium; some players were there and gained experience.

They chartered a large Airbus, providing players with luxurious seats, high-tech glasses to help with jet lag, their own food, and so on, trying to give the players the best travel experience.

Club Brugge takes this match very seriously.

Firstly, they must win to keep their hopes of advancing alive.

Secondly, Belgium as a country needs European competition points; otherwise, if they keep performing poorly, the number of Champions League spots next season will drop from two to one.

On the Almaty side, I am quite concerned about their lack of experience playing official matches in January.

In Kazakhstan, January is extremely cold, making it impossible for players to train normally, so the league ends early and no official matches are held then.

Has Almaty ever played an official match in January before? I am not sure, but definitely not in the past twenty years, zero!

Although Almaty chose to train in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the entire team lacks experience dealing with such a schedule. With a month and a half since their last match, it’s hard for players to maintain match fitness.

Moreover, Astana is not their home ground; it is over a thousand kilometers from their home city! The long trip and lack of fans mean they won’t have the comfort of playing at home.

Although Club Brugge is missing their top scorers Zorris and Onyedika, Almaty also has their star player Satpayev injured.

Considering the nearly thirteen-fold difference in the teams’ market values, injuries should not be an excuse for Club Brugge; they still have enough squad strength to cope.

Overall, although Kazakhstan’s infamous “hellish home ground” is known to be tough.

Club Brugge has prepared thoroughly this time and will likely adapt well.

Can Club Brugge satisfy their fans? What do you all think? I hope they don’t settle for a narrow win but can really break through the barrier.

Alright, for today’s other matches, I will still send you my written opinions tonight. If anything is unclear, feel free to ask me. “Watch football and understand it,” see you then!

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