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Astana and Vitoria Guimaraes battle for three points in a UEFA Conference League clash on Thursday at the Almaty Central Stadium.
The hosts are coming off a 2-0 extra-time away win over Zhenia in the Kazakhstan League Cup final. Karlo Bartolec and Ousmane Camara scored in the extra period to help their side win the tournament's maiden edition.
The Yellow-and-Blues now shift their focus to the continent, where their last Conference League game was a 1-0 defeat at Paphos.
Guimaraes, meanwhile, claimed a routine 2-0 home win over Leiria in the Portuguese Taca de Portugal. Oscar Rivas Viondi and Kaio Cesar scored in either half to help their side advance to the next round. Their last Conference League game, meanwhile, was a 2-1 home win over Mlada Boleslav.
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The victory took them to fifth in the standings, having garnered maximum points from three games, while Astana are 25th with three points.
Astana vs Vitoria Guimaraes Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
- Astana have won their last 10 home games.
- Vitoria have won their last nine Conference League games, including qualifiers, keeping six clean sheets.
- Nine of Astana's last 12 competitive games saw at least one side fail to score,
- Five of Vitoria's last six games to produce a winner have been decided by one-goal margins.
Astana vs Vitoria Guimaraes Prediction
Astana are just outside the top 24 and their hopes of qualification to the knockouts could be determined by this game. Grigori Babayan's side are due to play Chelsea next and might have to get something here to avoid an early ouster.
Vitoria, for their part, are one of six sides to have won their three opening games. Os Conquistadores are seeking to qualify for the knockouts of European club competition for the first time since the 1986-87 season. Expect the visitors to claim a narrow victory and also keep a clean sheet.
Prediction: Astana 0-1 Vitoria
Astana vs Vitoria Guimaraes Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Vitoria to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score: No
Tip 3 - Under 2.5 goals
