MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 13:16:56| >> :600:383275:383275:
[monks data]
Qarabag
Europa League | Group Stage
Nov 3, 2022 at 5.45pm UK
 
Freiburg logo

Qarabag
1 - 1
Freiburg

Kwabena (90+2')
Mustafazada (24'), Jankovic (48'), Kady (55'), Romao (90+3')
Medina (62')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Petersen (25' pen.)
Schade (34'), Keitel (64'), Schlotterbeck (74')

Preview: Qarabag FK vs. Freiburg - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Qarabag FK and Freiburg, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Qarabag FK welcome German high-flyers Freiburg to their temporary European home of the Tariq Bahramov Stadium in Baku for a crucial UEFA Europa League fixture for the Azeri champions.

Qurban Qurbanov's side can secure their place in the knockout round if they match or better the result of Nantes in Group G's other encounter.


Match preview

Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov pictured on November 5, 2020© Reuters

Qarabag reached the preliminary knockout round of the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, but progression here would be the first time they have ever played European football post-Christmas at this level.

They come into the game knowing their destiny is in their own hands too, sitting one point clear in second place.

Their 3-0 thrashing of Nantes on matchday two means they have the upper hand over the French outfit on head-to-head record - the determining factor should there be a tie on points.

Therefore, as long as Nantes do not win in Piraeus against Olympiacos, Qarabag will go through, but the Greek side are bottom of the group without a win, so the Azeri's may need to do the work themselves.

They would have already sealed progression if not for a 95th-minute winner by Ignatius Ganago for Nantes which broke Qarabag hearts last week, a goal which has kept the group alive going into the final matchday.

Qarabag have played a weakened side for domestic matches recently to focus on Europe and they still have a 100% record after 11 games in the Premyer Liqasi, with their only defeats this season all coming in away games on the continent.

No side has come to Baku and beat Qarabag since Marseille in that UECL preliminary knockout round encounter back in February, 21 matches ago.

Freiburg are a long way clear in the group, safely qualified as group winners on 13 points, with a draw against Olympiacos last time out being their first dropped points of the campaign.

Vincenzo Grifo celebrates scoring for Freiburg on September 8, 2022© Reuters

Qarabag's eventual defeat at Nantes last week means Freiburg were through regardless of how they got on, but Lukas Kubler still scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to eliminate the Greeks.

Christian Streich's men have responded superbly to their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich just over two weeks ago, progressing in the DFB-Pokal, progressing in Europe, and recording back-to-back wins in the Bundesliga.

A 2-0 win at Schalke on Sunday kept them in third, two points off Union Berlin who remain the surprise Bundesliga leaders.

Vincenzo Grifo put on a masterclass at the Veltins Arena, and the Italy international will get a nice break during the World Cup, like a lot of the Freiburg squad, to recharge for the second half of the season.

Qarabag FK Europa League form:


Qarabag FK form (all competitions):


Freiburg Europa League form:


Freiburg form (all competitions):



Team News

Freiburg boss Christian Streich on September 11, 2022© Reuters

Filip Ozobic was the only player who started for Qarabag in the weekend win over Shamakhi from the side which went down in Nantes last week.

Ozobic only lasted 18 minutes though before going off injured, allowing Nariman Akhundzade a chance to make his debut for the club.

Qurbanov is expected to make another 11 changes to the side for this encounter, with their squad so superior to the rest domestically, they are able to field a second string lineup in the league, saving their main squad of players for Europe.

Four of the European starters were given some minutes in the second half to help seal their 4-0 win on Sunday, but Marko Vesovic and captain Qara Qarayev were left out of the squad entirely.

Leandro Andrade and Badavi Huseynov are the injury absentees for Qarabag here.

With Freiburg already through as group winners and going strong in Germany, wholesale changes are expected from Streich for this trip, with some key players to be left at home.

They could name a similar side to the one that faced St. Pauli in the DFB-Pokal a few weeks back, with Nils Petersen given a rare start up front and Noah Atubolu given a go between the sticks.

Manuel Gulde (back), Kimberly Ezekwem (tendon), Roland Sallai (eye) and Jonathan Schmid (muscle) all remain out injured.

Qarabag FK possible starting lineup:
Mahammadaliyev; Vesovic, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Qarayev, Richard Almeida, Kady; Sheydayev, Owusu, Zoubir

Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atabolu; Sildillia, K Schlotterbeck, Lienhart, Gunter; Hofler, Kietel, Schade, Jeong, Weisshaupt; Petersen


SM words green background

We say: Qarabag FK 2-1 Freiburg

Freiburg, despite being by far the best team in the group, have nothing to play for and have important matters to attend to in the Bundesliga over the next week and a half, so are unlikely to take many first-team regulars to Azerbaijan.

Qarabag meanwhile, must win to ensure progression and rested many players at the weekend with all eyes on this game.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:498543:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13646:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Qarabag vs Freiburg

Qarabag FK
53.3%
Draw
11.8%
Freiburg
34.9%
195
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured on October 19, 2022
Read Next:
Thursday's Europa League predictions including Man United vs. Sheriff
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio440012
2Ajax431010
3Anderlecht431010
4Frankfurt431010
5Galatasaray431010
6Spurs43019
7FCSB43019
8Lyon42117
9Rangers42117
10Olympiacos42117
11Bodo/Glimt42117
12Midtjylland42117
13Ferencvaros42026
14Man Utd41306
15Plzen41306
16AZ42026
17Besiktas42026
18Hoffenheim41215
19Roma41215
20Fenerbahce41215
21Elfsborg41124
22Braga41124
23Porto41124
24Slavia Prague41124
25Real Sociedad41124
26Malmo41033
27FC Twente40313
28Qarabag41033
29Union SG40222
30Nice40222
31RFS40222
32Ludogorets40131
33PAOK40131
34Athletic Club00000
35M. Tel Aviv40040
36Dynamo Kiev40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!