The first leg of the 2025/26 Europa Conference League second qualifying round between Astana (Kazakhstan) and Zimbru (Moldova) will take place on July 24 at the Astana Arena. Astana vs. Zimbru: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Astana
The Kazakhstani side earned their spot in the Europa Conference League by finishing second in the national championship in 2024. This marks Astana's third consecutive participation in this European competition. Last season, the team finished 28th in the group stage, securing only one victory (2 draws, 3 losses). They managed to score just four goals, with only one team performing worse in this regard. Additionally, Astana currently leads the KPL-2025 standings.
- No more than two goals have been scored in 6 of Astana's last 8 Europa Conference League matches.
- On home soil in this tournament, the team has not lost in 5 of their last 6 matches (4 wins, 1 draw).
- In 6 of Astana's last 8 home games in the Europa Conference League, they have conceded no more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Astana (4-5-1)
Josip Condric – Branimir Kalaica, Aleksa Amanovic, Karlo Bartolec, Kipras Kazukolovas – Yan Vorogovsky, Nazmi Gripshi, Usman Kamara, Nuraly Zhaksylik, Ivan Basic – Chinedu Jeffrey.
Zimbru
Finishing third in the last Moldovan championship allowed the Chisinau side to qualify for the Europa Conference League. Like their upcoming opponents, Zimbru will participate in this tournament for the third consecutive time. However, the second qualifying round has been a stumbling block for the team, as they have never advanced beyond this stage. Moreover, the club has never reached the group stage of any European competition. Currently, Zimbru sits in 4th place in the national championship.
In June, the team was taken over by Oleg Kubarev, who previously worked in the Belarusian and Latvian championships.
- The Moldovans have failed to win 5 of their last 6 Europa Conference League matches (1 draw, 4 losses).
- The club has conceded in 9 consecutive away games on the international stage.
- At least three goals have been scored in 6 of Zimbru's last 7 away encounters in European competitions.
Predicted lineup for Zimbru (4-4-2)
Nikolay Chebotar – Mihail Stefan, Nikolay Zolotov, Andrey Makritsky, Stefan Burgiu – Bruno Paz, Iu Ranera, Diogo Rodrigues, Victor Stina – Guy Dahan, Timofey Sharkovsky.
Referee
Amin Kurgheli (Belarus)
Matches – 5 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 13;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.6;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 0%.
Astana vs. Zimbru: Match Prediction
Astana is rightfully considered the favorite for the upcoming match. The team regularly competes in European competitions and performs best on home turf. At home in the Europa Conference League, the club has not lost in 5 of their last 6 matches, securing 4 victories. The only defeat in this span came against the eventual tournament winner. However, even against Chelsea, the team managed to score, and in their last 6 home matches in the Europa Conference League, they have scored 13 goals.
Zimbru has played 6 matches in the Europa Conference League, achieving only one victory, and that was against a modest opponent – La Fiorita from San Marino. Approaching the upcoming game, the Moldovans are on a 4-match losing streak in this tournament, conceding at least three goals in each match during this period. Moreover, the team has not kept a clean sheet in away European matches for over 10 years.
Considering these facts, my prediction: Astana to win and Total Over 1.5 goals
