Reaching the last 16 of the Europa League is already a huge success for Qarabag. It’s the first time ever that a team from Azerbaijan has reached this stage of a European competition. Gurban Gurbanov’s side came through an exciting play-off tie against Braga, who had finished third in Champions League Group C behind Real Madrid and Napoli. Qarabag claimed a famous 4-2 first-leg win in Portugal, with Frenchman Abdellah Zoubir the star of the show with two goals and an assist.
The real drama came in the second leg in front of 31,200 at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku. When Elvin Jafarguliyev was sent off for a second yellow on 57 minutes with the game at 0-0, Braga took advantage and scored twice to force extra-time. Matheus Silva then got one back for the champions of Azerbaijan before Simon Banza brought the visitors level again on aggregate from the penalty spot with five minutes left of the 120. The tie was set to go to penalties until 19-year-old substitute Nariman Akhundzade struck for the 10-man hosts two minutes into added time. It ended in a 3-2 loss on the night, but Qarabag were still through to the last 16.
“The way they turned it their way in the final moment against Braga deserves respect,” said Bayer 04 managing director for sport Simon Rolfes. “We will approach this task with the utmost concentration to ensure we qualify for the quarter-finals in two challenging games.”
Qarabag proved in the group stage that they can be awkward opponents for the Werkself. Although Xabi Alonso’s side ran out comfortable 5-1 winners at the BayArena, it took a Victor Boniface penalty in added time in Baku to snatch a 1-0 victory. The Azerbaijanis finished the group in second behind Leverkusen.
The defending champions are currently well out ahead in the Azerbaijani league. They beat fourth-placed Neftci Baku 4-1 at the weekend with goals from Akhundzade, Toral Bayramov (two) and Patrick Andrade. Their lead at the top after 25 games is 23 points as they head towards an 11th title.
Coach Gurbanov is without two important players in the first leg. Defensive midfielder Julio Romao serves his second ban of this European campaign due to accumulation of yellow cards. Andrade is expected to take his place in the team. Left-back Jafarguliyev, who has started every game in Europe this season, also serves a ban after he was sent off in the second leg against Braga.
Former Werkself man Andrey Lunev is the first choice in Qarabag’s goal. Central defenders Badavi Hüseynov and Bahlul Mustafazade, as well as right-back Marko Vesovic are also set to start. Gurbanov has recently backed Zoubir (11 goals in 2023/24), Yassine Benzia (12), Leandro Andrade (11) and top scorer Juninho (21) are the usual four in attack. Akhundzade and Redon Xhixha are also goalscoring options off the bench. Qarabag boast by far Azerbaijan’s best attack with 65 goals from their 25 games. It means Leverkusen’s defence will have to be fully focused again in Baku.
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