Qarabag FK vs. Ajax: Match Preview, Predictions, and Group Information

Aiming to finish their five-match winless run towards Dutch groups in Europe, Qarabag FK welcome Ajax to the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium for Wednesday’s matchday six within the Champions League.

The Azerbaijani facet’s solely loss of their earlier 9 matches got here at Napoli in late November, they usually search to keep away from back-to-back European defeats towards opponents who’ve managed to win two consecutively following a poor run.

Match preview

In solely their second-ever look within the Champions League correct, Qarabag might end the league section among the many groups with an opportunity of reaching the final 16.

After 5 matchdays, Gurban Gurbanov’s crew sit nineteenth within the 36-team desk with seven factors, stage with European giants Barcelona in 18th and solely three factors adrift of the coveted top-eight spots.

These positions assure automated participation within the spherical of 16, a prospect few believed potential for the Horsemen initially of the league section.

Whereas nothing is assured, the Azerbaijani giants stay in competition for a dream run to the final 16, an ambition strengthened by a 10-match unbeaten streak in Baku throughout all competitions, together with two in Europe’s premier membership competitors.

Having defeated Copenhagen 2-0 initially of October, Gurbanov’s males then held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw a month later, a match through which the Blues have been favoured for a cushty victory.

At the moment poised to advance to the knockout section playoffs as one of many unseeded groups, most factors in Baku this week might raise Qarabag into the positions between ninth and sixteenth, which might make them seeded within the knockout playoffs — an achievement unanticipated months in the past.

The hosts will certainly again themselves for an additional optimistic dwelling consequence, particularly towards Ajax, regardless of their 3-0 loss to the Dutch facet within the Europa League final season.

A lot has modified at each golf equipment since then, notably in Amsterdam, the place Francesco Farioli has departed and Johnny Heitinga’s return was transient.

Heitinga was dismissed after matchday 5’s 3-0 dwelling defeat by Galatasaray, whereas Fred Grim’s interim spell started with three additional defeats, together with one other Champions League loss in Amsterdam, this time 2-0 to Benfica.

Ajax’s four-match dropping run has been adopted by two Eredivisie victories, beating Groningen 2-0 and Fortuna Sittard 3-1; nonetheless, these wins don’t precisely replicate the matches’ stream.

Grim’s crew defeated Groningen in Amsterdam final Tuesday after the guests did not convert good goalscoring alternatives earlier than Ajax received 2-0, and the 3-1 weekend victory at Sittard was even much less deserved.

In a match the place each side have been diminished to 10 males, Ajax benefitted from two personal objectives in a contest the place they have been outshot 26-13 and misplaced the anticipated objectives (xG) battle: 2.72-1.01.

Regardless of these unconvincing outcomes, they journey to Baku aiming for a 3rd consecutive win and their first Champions League victory of the season, eager to finish an eight-match dropping streak in Europe.

This ongoing run is the membership’s most prolonged European dropping sequence of their historical past, they usually hope for optimum factors on the sixth try this time period, which ought to raise them off the underside of the 36-team section.

Qarabag FK Champions League kind:

Qarabag FK kind (all competitions):

Ajax Champions League kind:

Ajax kind (all competitions):

Group Information

Kady Borges is Qarabag’s sole anticipated harm absentee, with the midfielder out for the reason that draw with Chelsea final month.

Leandro Andrade has scored three of the Horsemen’s eight Champions League objectives, accounting for 37.5% of the Azerbaijani membership’s whole within the first 5 matchdays.

Curiously, two of Andrade’s objectives got here away from dwelling towards Benfica and Athletic Membership, and he’s hoping so as to add to his effort towards Chelsea.

Matheus Silva and Kevin Medina are one reserving away from a suspension for the hosts, with Silva avoiding a card within the Napoli defeat, towards whom Medina was booked.

Wout Weghorst — additionally a reserving from suspension, together with Youri Baas — was withdrawn earlier than the half-hour towards Fortuna, suggesting the ahead could miss out on Wednesday; Kasper Dolberg might begin if Weghorst is unable to play.

If Weghorst (ankle) is absent, he would be part of Steven Berghuis (groin) and Branco van den Boomen (again) on the injured record.

Kenneth Taylor (knock) will probably be assessed earlier than the matchday six encounter in Baku, whereas Josip Sutalo’s health can be in query.

Though Mika Godts has scored as soon as within the final 4 video games in all competitions, he stays Ajax’s main attacking menace this season with 11 aim involvements.

Nevertheless, Godts has but to attain or help in Europe this time period, with Weghorst netting De Joden’s solely aim within the 5-1 defeat by Chelsea in October.

Qarabag FK potential beginning lineup:

Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarguliyev; Bicalho, Jankovic; Andrade, Zoubir, Addai; Duran

Ajax potential beginning lineup:

Jaros; Gaaei, Itakura, Baas, Wijndal; Klaassen, Gloukh, Taylor; Bounida, Dolberg, Godts

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We are saying: Qarabag FK 2-1 Ajax

Ajax should elevate their stage in Baku to keep away from reverting to outdated issues.

Nevertheless, we predict disappointment at Qarabag on Wednesday, with the hosts anticipated to finish their winless streak towards Dutch groups and delay the away facet’s disappointing European season.

For information evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.

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