SportsMole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Qarabag FK and Ajax, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
dutch giants Ajax Tofiq Bahramov travels to the Republic Stadium to face the Azerbaijan champion Arabic FK In european league Thursday afternoon.
While Ajax have picked up four points from their first two games in the league phase of the competition, Qarabag are yet to pick up a single point.
Competition Preview
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In the recently expanded Europa League to 36 teams, Qarabag was one of six teams to lose two or two games. An initial 3-0 defeat Three weeks ago, against Tottenham Hotspur, who were left with 10 men, they lost 2-1 to Malmo.
Gurban GurbanovHowever, Win's team has impressed domestically so far, winning eight of its first nine Azerbaijan Premier League matches and scoring 25 goals, the most goals in the league.
Qarabag thrashed Qabas 5-0 last weekend, scoring four goals in just 27 minutes in the second half to beat Qabas 5-0. qualification.
The Horsemen, who reached the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time in their history last season, have struggled mightily on the continental stage. In fact, of all the teams that have played at least 50 games in the Europa League, Qarabag has the highest defeat rate in the competition (55% – 29/53).
They have also found it challenging to win against Dutch opposition, having drawn three and lost one of their last four games, all in Europa League qualifying against FC Twente, including two 0-0 draws at home. 2009 and 2014.
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Ajax have made a positive start to their latest European campaign after losing in the Europa League group stage last season before being knocked out of the Conference League in the round of 16, following an opening 4-0 win over Besiktas to draw 1-1. Draw with 10 men against Slavia Prague three weeks ago.
The Amsterdam giants currently boast a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which was extended last weekend thanks to a thrilling 4-3 win over Heracles in the Eredivisie. Wekhorst Wood He scored two goals in the second half, including an 82nd-minute winner, to earn maximum points for the fifth time this season.
A thirty-five year old coach Francesco FarioliHe has won 11 of his first 15 matches since taking charge in the summer and his team currently sit in third place. Eredivisie standings And they are 11 points behind PSV Eindhoven, the runaway leader, although they have played two games.
Ajax have won the European Cup and the Champions League four times and reached the Europa League final in 2016-17, but have only won two of their last 15 games entering Thursday's game. Last six on the road.
However, Ajax have lost just one of their last eight games when facing an opponent for the first time in European competition (W4 D3), including qualifying wins over FK Vojvodina and Jagellonia Bialystok in the Europa League this season, which is far ahead of his debut. Meeting with Karabakh.
Karabakh FK Europa League Form:
Karabakh FK form (all matches):
Ajax's Europa League form:
Ajax format (all matches):
Group messages
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Qarabag will be left without a pair of goalkeepers Sharudin Makhamdaliyev AND Amin Ramazanov While they continue to recover from an injury. Mateusz Kochalski He is expected to start between the sticks against Ajax.
Gurbanov is expected to name his strongest possible lineup, which includes the star striker. juninhoHe scored six goals in 12 Europa League games for Qarabag and, if he scores a goal, he will be the competition's top scorer along with the winger. Abdullah ZubirWho is also initiating Jupiter.
For Ajax, Steven Perquis He returned to training but will not travel to Azerbaijan with the first team Christian Hlinson (ankle), Julian Rijkhoff (knee), David Claussen (unqualified) and unri pass (Suspended) is not on the roster.
Wekhorst, Jordan Henderson, Bertrand Traray AND Kian Fitz Jim They all returned to the Europa League after missing the previous game against Slavia Prague, while the 16-year-old defender Jordi Moggio Also included.
Daniel Rugani You can change boss and partner. Joseph Sudalo Meanwhile, in central defense Brian Brophy Having scored just one goal in 12 games so far this season, he is in danger of losing his starting job.
Karabakh FK Possible Starting Lineup:
Kosalsky; Silva, Mustafaset, Husaynov, Kafarguliev; Romao, B. Andrade; L. Andrade, Benzia, Zoubir; juninho
Possible Ajax startup sequence:
pen key; Rensch, Sudalo, Rugani, Hado; van den Boomen, Henderson, Taylor; Trare, Wekhorst, Katz
We say: Qarabag FK 1-2 Ajax
Both teams have been strong on the domestic front so far this season, but Ajax have fared better on the continent and will be considered favorites to beat Qarabag.
The hosts have the firepower to cause Ajax problems in the final third, but we are backing the Dutch giants to outclass their opponents and claim their third successive win in all competitions.
Click here to see the data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match.
