Real Madrid emphatically defeated Kairat Almaty in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Despite being huge underdogs, Kairat Almaty almost took a shocking lead inside the first 15 seconds of the match. The hosts pumped the ball long immediately, and a cross fell perfectly to the striker, Dastan Satpaev, who headed his effort straight at Thibaut Courtois. If the 17-year-old had guided his header either side of Courtois, it would’ve likely resulted in a goal, but he couldn’t direct it.

Although the hosts got off to a very bright start, Real Madrid quickly gained control of the match, and in the 26th minute, the Spanish giants took the lead through Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman scored from the penalty spot after Sherhan Kalmurza brought down Franco Mastantuono in his box after a poor headed backpass. This goal from Mbappe was his 11th of the season, and he continued his phenomenal start to the campaign.

For the rest of the first half after their opening goal, Madrid continued to threaten the Kairat Almaty defence, especially through both the goalscorer, Mbappe, and Mastantuono, who were linking up really well and proving to be a nightmare to deal with down the right flank. As for the hosts, aside from a few ambitious shots from distance, they didn’t offer anything in front of goal but defended well at times.

The first half came to a close with Madrid in a 1-0 lead.

In the 52nd minute, Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead to two goals. The goal was as simple and route one as you are ever going to see, as it was created by a simple long ball up the pitch from Courtois, and the Belgian’s punt was controlled by Mbappe, who burnt the Kairat Almaty defender for pace, and slotted the ball into the back of the net, chipping Kalmurza to make it 2-0.

Just seven minutes after scoring his second goal, Mbappe had a golden opportunity to score a hat-trick, but he side-footed his finish wide of the target. By the Frenchman’s standards, this was a really bad miss, and it is a shame he missed it, as the build-up to it between himself and Vinicius Junior was exceptional.

In the 68th minute, Kairat Almaty thought they were about to have one of the biggest moments in their history as they were awarded a penalty, but after a pretty lengthy VAR review, the referee went against his original decision and decided Daniel Ceballos’ challenge was not worthy of a penalty.

Just minutes after Kairat Almaty were given hopes of a comeback, Mbappe made it 3-0 and secured his hat-trick. This goal was the pick of the bunch so far from Madrid, as it was a beautifully crafted move, and the Frenchman smashed a lethal finish into the bottom corner from just outside the box.

In the 83rd minute, Madrid made it 4-0. Two of Madrid’s substitutions combined for the fourth goal, as Rodrygo went on a great run and put a cross into the box, which was met by the head of Eduardo Camavinga, who guided it into the back of the net. With it being so late into the match, Kairat Almaty were really starting to struggle to deal with Madrid’s pace as their defence was almost out on its feet.

Madrid didn’t stop at four goals, instead, they made it 5-0 with the last kick of the match. Once again, two of Xabi Alonso’s substitutions combined for the goal, with Gonzalo Garcia playing a simple pass through to Brahim Diaz, and the Moroccan slotted a perfect finish past the goalkeeper right into the bottom corner. This was the last action of the match, and Madrid came out emphatic 5-0 winners.

Match Highlights

To follow soon…

Kairat Almaty Player Ratings

GK: Sherhan Kalmurza – 4.5/10

Kept busy all evening and produced a few good saves. The 18-year-old goalkeeper gave away a penalty, but couldn’t have really done anything to stop the goals which Madrid put past him.

RB: Erkin Tapalov – 6/10

Managed to keep Vinicius Junior pretty quiet in the first half, but in the second half, he struggled, but still worked hard defensively.

CB: Aleksandr Martynovich – 6/10

Really struggled with the pace and trickery of Madrid’s front line. Despite being constantly called into action, the 38-year-old produced some key defensive actions, which kept his side from conceding even more goals.

CB: Egor Sorokin – 6/10

Just like his centre-back partner, Martynovich, Sorokin also produced plenty of important defensive actions, but also really struggled at times against the threats which the Madrid attackers had to offer.

LB: Luis Mata – 7/10

A bright spark for the hosts. Mata put in an energetic display up and down the left flank and even forced Courtois into a save after he caught a strike sweetly from outside the box in the second half.

CM: Damir Kasabulat – 6/10

Worked very hard in the middle of the park, but didn’t have much to do in possession.

CM: Ofri Arad – 7/10

Tried his best to make things happen in the midfield, and he did at times. Arad was looking to create and dictate play when he got on the ball and turned out to be one of Kairat Almaty’s most positive players.

AM: Jorginho – 5.5/10

Didn’t really have much involvement in the match aside from an ambitious long-range effort.

RW: Aleksandr Mrynskiy – 5/10

Tried to make things happen down the right flank several times, but was quite easily shut out by Garcia.

ST: Dastan Satpaev – 6.5/10

Extremely lively up front despite the lack of service. The 17-year-old also worked his socks off and made himself quite hard to deal with.

LW: Valeri Gromyko – 6/10

Worked incredibly hard up and down the left flank, but couldn’t contribute anything offensively.

SUB: Olzhas Baybek – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Edmilson Filho – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Jug Stanojev – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Giorgi Zaria – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.​​​​​​​

SUB: Ricardinho – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

Real Madrid Player Ratings

GK: Thibaut Courtois – 8.5/10

Provided a superb assist for Mbappe’s second goal and made some really good saves throughout the match.

RB: Raul Asencio – 7/10

Solid as a rock defensively, but didn’t really offer anything offensively.

CB: Dean Huijsen – 8/10

Excellent with the ball at his feet and pretty much flawless defensively. The big centre-back broke out from the back several times and started some good attacks for Madrid despite playing in the defence.

CB: David Alaba – 7.5/10

Good in possession of the ball and made some important defensive contributions when Kairat Almaty threatened the Madrid defence.

LB: Francisco Garcia – 7.5/10

Defensively brilliant and was constantly up and down the left flank. Garcia put some good balls into the box and was very good in possession of the ball.

CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 7.5/10

Controlled the midfield at times in possession, but was also a big asset for Madrid with his physicality and defensive abilities as well.

CM: Daniel Ceballos – 8/10

Saw more of the ball than any other player on the pitch. The Spaniard rarely misplaced a pass and controlled the midfield for the majority of the match.

AM: Arda Guler – 8.5/10

Provided an assist for Mbappe’s third goal and was a constant creative threat in the final third.

RW: Franco Mastantuono – 7.5/10

Dangerous throughout the match down the right wing. The Argentine linked up really well with Mbappe at times and really showcased his pace and trickery.

ST: Kylian Mbappe – 10/10 (Man of the Match)

Hat-trick hero. The Frenchman put in a brilliant, well-rounded performance and capped it off with a brilliant hat-trick. Mbappe was not only efficient in the box, but he also linked up well with Mastantuono and Vinicius Junior, making himself a nuisance on the wings.

LW: Vinicius Junior – 5.5/10

Didn’t really have much involvement in the match outside of linking up well with Mbappe for a chance in the second half, which the Frenchman should’ve taken. Vinicius Junior, by his standards, had a pretty poor showing against a side he really should be performing against.

SUB: Rodrygo – 8/10

Provided an assist for Camavinga’s goal and was a constant threat after coming on.

SUB: Brahim Diaz – 8/10

Scored an excellent goal with the last kick of the match.

SUB: Jude Bellingham – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Eduardo Camavinga – 8/10

Didn’t have much to do after coming on, but still managed to get on the scoresheet.

SUB: Gonzalo Garcia – 7/10

Provided a simple but effective assist for Diaz’s goal.