Madrid’s Marathon Trip: 4,000 Miles to Kazakhstan for Champions League Clash
Real Madrid faces one of its longest-ever journeys in European competition this week, flying nearly 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) east to Kazakhstan for a Champions League clash with Kairat Almaty on Tuesday.
Kazakhstan only joined UEFA in 2002 after leaving the Asian Football Confederation, and while part of the country lies in Europe, Almaty sits deep in the east—making this trip a serious test of endurance for the 15-time European champions.
“You just have to adapt,” said Madrid coach Xabi Alonso. “The distance doesn’t matter—it’s no excuse.”
Madrid opened its Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Marseille but arrives in Kazakhstan licking its wounds from a 5-2 derby defeat to Atlético Madrid, its first loss of the domestic season.
Kairat, beaten 4-1 by Sporting Lisbon in its group debut, will lean on its formidable home record: only four defeats in the last 30 European matches in Almaty.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich makes the shorter hop to Cyprus to face debutants Pafos.
0 Comments