Qarabag FK welcome FCSB to the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku for their penultimate League Phase fixture in the Europa League on Thursday night.
These two teams have never previously butted heads, while this contest represents the first-ever meeting between an Azerbaijan team and a Romanian club in European competition.
Match preview
© Imago
Qarabag advanced to the last 16 of the Europa League last season for the first time in their history, but they are in danger of suffering elimination from the League Phase of the newly-formed 2024-25 competition following an underwhelming campaign thus far.
Indeed, the Horsemen have won one and lost five of their six Europa League fixtures, most recently losing 1-0 at Elfsborg on December 12, and they subsequently sit 33rd in the 36-team standings, four points behind the last-16 playoff places with only two matches left to play.
Since that aforementioned loss in Sweden, Gurban Gurbanov's side have won each of their last four Azerbaijan Premier League games by an aggregate score of 11-2, beating Shamakhi 3-2 on home soil last weekend to move 11 points clear at the top of the table.
Gurbanov will hope that Qarabag's home triumph can inspire his players to improve their form on the continent in front of their own fans, as they have lost each of their last five European fixtures on home soil (including qualifiers) having previously lost just five out of 33 such matches.
Qarabag will be pleased to know that FCSB have only won one of their last six Europa League away games in 90 minutes, but the Romanian outfit have fared better in this season's competition and are in contention to qualify for the last 16 for the first time since 2017-18.
Three wins, two draws and just one defeat has been posted by FCSB, who have played out goalless stalemates with Olympiacos and Hoffenheim in their last two Europa League games; only Saint-Etienne in 2014-15 have ever drawn three successive matches by a 0-0 scoreline in the competition's history.
Elias Charalambous's side currently sit 10th in the 36-team table, level on points with ninth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and eight-placed Rangers heading into their final two matches against Qarabag and seventh-placed Manchester United.
The reigning Romanian Liga I champions, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Hermannstadt last Friday, will look to rely on their defensive resilience in Thursday's Europa League contest; they have kept four clean sheets in six matches and only in 2005-06 have they ever kept more in a major European campaign (nine in 14 UEFA Cup games).
Team News
![Yassine Benzia of FK Qarabag. during the UEFA Europa league round of 16 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FK Qarabag at De Bay Arena on March 14, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany [on July 20, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/29/yassine-benzia.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Yassine Benzia of FK Qarabag. during the UEFA Europa league round of 16 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FK Qarabag at De Bay Arena on March 14, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany [on July 20, 2024]")
© Imago
Qarabag goalkeeper Amin Ramazanov is still recovering from a long-term knee injury, so Mateusz Kochalski should continue between the sticks, protected by a back four of Marko Vesovic, Matheus Silva, Badavi Guseynov and Elvin Cafarguliyev.
Marko Jankovic and Julio Romao are set to link arms in centre-midfield, while either Redon Xhixha or Musa Qurbanly could start up front following the departure of top scorer Juninho, who has returned to his native Brazil to join Flamengo.
As for FCSB, Mihai Lixandru (muscle), Octavian Popescu (knock) and top scorer Darius Olaru (shoulder) all remain sidelined as thy continue to recover from injury.
Either Daniel Popa or Daniel Birligea, who has scored 11 times in all competitions this season, is set to lead the line, with support provided in attack by David Miculescu and Florin Tanase.
Qarabag FK possible starting lineup:
Kochalski; Vesovic, Silva, Guseynov, Cafarguliyev; Jankovic, Romao; Kashchuk, Benzia; Zoubir; Xhixha
FCSB possible starting lineup:
Tarnovanu; Cretu, Ngezana, Dawa, Radunovic; Chiriches, Sut, Edjouma; Miculescu, Birligea, Tanase
We say: Qarabag FK 2-2 FCSB
A closely-fought, end-to-end contest could be on the cards on Thursday, and although FCSB may be considered as slight favourites, we are backing Qarabag to claim at least a share of the spoils on home soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
