Although Astana may have only been founded in 2009, they already have put together an impressive European record playing in both the Champions League and Europa League group stages over the past 3 seasons. Domestically, the club which began under the name Lokomotiv Astana, have won the Kazakhstan Premier League three times along with capturing 5 Cup competitions proving to be a footballing force to be reckoned with.

Let’s find out how the Kazakhstan club built themselves into a continental name and what Maccabi can expect come Thursday on Matchday 3 of the Europa League Group Stages thanks to Manuel Veth of futbolgrad.com.

Nicknamed The Blue & Yellows, Astana may have many domestic players on its squad but relies heavily on the scoring punch of a pair of foreigners from the Congo and Ghana explained Veth, “The top players are forwards Junior Kabananga who plays on the Congo National Team and Patrick Twumasi from Ghana. The two have scored 28 goals together just this season in the Kazakh Premier League and combine very well up top.”

Photo: fca.kz ()

“Astana play in the classic 4-2-3-1 formation and although they are usually the underdogs in European football they try to play a cultured attacking style,” continued Veth when asked about the style of play that can be expected by the Kazakstan club.

Much of the European success has been due to the head coach who arrived on the scene from Bulgaria a few years ago, “Stanimir Stoilov has been with the club since 2014 and has overseen a very successful period with the club. Under him Astana qualified for their third consecutive European group stage competition. Signed from Botev Plovdiv, Stoilov has averaged 2.02 points per game as the head coach of Astana and has won three Kazakh championships with the club.”

Photo: fca.kz ()

For the Maccabi fans who will be heading to the Kazakh capital, the fan culture is bit subdued commented Veth, “It is a bit of a mute atmosphere in Astana. Although the state is investing heavily in football it is still only the third largest sport behind traditional Kazakh sports and ice hockey.”

Astana has been extremely successful at home in European play and that is due to a couple of important factors, “I think travel and the artificial pitch are huge. Astana hasn’t lost at home against European opposition in more than two years, winning 8 matches while drawing 8 others. I think that of the two factors the travel is by far the biggest concern for teams traveling to Kazakhstan. With that in mind Astana are very strong at home and even big clubs like Atletico have struggled.”

Photo: fca.kz ()

Astana Fun Facts
1) Maccabi Head Coach Jordi Cruyff is familiar with Astana boss Stanimir Stoilov when both were in Cyprus between 2010-2012. Cruyff was the Sports Director at AEK Larnaca while Stoilov was with Anorthosis Famagusta as the Head Coach.

2) Astana’s biggest European home win came in 2014/15 Europa League qualifying when they defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 3:0.

3) While the Israeli league is just getting underway, the Kazakhstan league is nearing its end as Astana has already played 29 matches and sits in first place with a record of 23 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses.

4) The team in second place is none other than Kairat Almaty, one of Maccabi’s 2016/17 Europa League qualifying opponents. In fact, matches between the clubs are considered as the Two Capitals Derby.

5) Astana plays in the ultra modern 30,000 seat Astana Arena that features a retractable roof, climate control and a synthetic pitch.

6) Even though Astana may be new to European football they have played against a number of opponents that are familiar continental foes to Maccabi including, Maribor, APOEL, HJK, Olympiacos and Zalgiris.