Will Qarabag FK set the course for the group stage already in the first leg?
NK Olimpija Ljubljana will be in the group stage of a UEFA European Cup for the first time in the club’s history. Now the only question is whether NK Olimpija will enter the group stage of the Europa League or Conference League. After all, in the Europa League play-offs, the hurdle is against Qarabag FK.
The loser will enter the group stage of the ECL in the worst-case scenario. Qarabag FK was already represented in the Europa League last year. It is therefore not at all surprising that the Azerbaijani representative is favored in the playoffs against Ljubljana. Already in the first leg between Ljubljana vs. Qarabag Agdam a bet on the “Atlilar” is by no means out of the question.
Qarabag FK has already eliminated HJK in the round before. Head coach Gurbanov’s team prevailed against the Finnish champions with an aggregate score of 4:2. Qarabag FK won both matches and is therefore brimming with confidence ahead of the play-offs against NK Olimpija.
Competitively, the Azerbaijani record champions have won their last four competitive matches in a row anyway. Our Ljubljana vs Qarabag Agdam prediction also targets the visitors for this reason.
Ljubljana – Statistics & current form
The Slovenians reached the third round of Champions League qualifying for the first time in the club’s history this season. However, against a team like Galatasaray Istanbul, the Slovenian champions lost out and missed out on the play-offs in the top flight. With the play-offs in the Europa League, however, there is now a consolation for NK Olimpija.
After all, if they win against Qarabag FK, the “Zmaji” can move into UEFA’s second most important European Cup. If, on the other hand, they lose, the worst-case scenario would be the group stage of the Conference League. For Ljubljana, it would be the first time they have reached the group stage of a European Cup.
NK Olimpija will play the first leg against Qarabag FK in front of a home crowd. The Green-Whites will rely on the twelfth man at the back and aim for their fifth win in the competition. The “Zmaji” have won four of their last five home games. Only against Galatasaray there was a defeat at home this season.
Will Ljubljana keep Qarabag FK’s offense in check?
When you consider how weak NK Olimpija’s defense has been on the national stage lately, it’s bold to bet on a win for the Slovenian champions in the upcoming match. After all, it rang in the recent league duel against Aluminij already four times in the box of the “Zmaji”.
It is also likely to be only a matter of time on the international stage before it rings for the first time against Qarabag FK in the Green-Whites’ box. Internationally, there has not been a single match in the current season in which NK Olimpija has not conceded a goal.
Head coach Henriques has no major personnel worries ahead of the home match against the Azerbaijani record champions. The coach of the “Zmaji” can therefore draw as far as possible from the full. Compared to the recent starting eleven, however, no major changes are expected from the hosts from Ljubljana.
Predicted lineup of Ljubljana:
Vidovsek, Karamatic, Muhamedbegovic, Ratnik; Silva, Gavric, Seslar, Posavec, Krefl; Pedro, Lucas
Qarabag Agdam – statistics & current form
Qarabag FK are just one step away from reaching the group stage of the Europa League again. The “Atlilar” were already in that competition last year after failing to qualify for the Champions League. In any case, Qarabag has not missed the group stage of a UEFA European Cup since 2013.
It is quite possible that the impressive streak will continue this year. Head coach Gurbanov’s team faces a feasible hurdle in Ljubljana and is already favored in the first leg on foreign soil. In the last qualifying round, Qarabag FK won both the first and second legs.
It is therefore by no means out of the question to bet on the Azerbaijani record champions in the match between Ljubljana and Qarabag Agdam. Especially since Qarabag FK has never lost a competitive match against Ljubljana anyway. The last time the two teams met in 2018, the “Atlilar” even managed to celebrate an away win at NK Olimpija.
Does Qarabag FK extend their recent winning streak?
It’s quite possible that the match will be won at the Slovenians this time as well. This is supported by the recent form of the Azerbaijani record champions. Qarabag FK have won their last four matches in a row, scoring nine goals – an average of more than two goals per match.
If the “Atlilar” continue their strong performance from the last few weeks, Qarabag FK should not have too much trouble against Ljubljana. Head coach Gurbanov will have to do without at least three players in the first leg of the playoffs. In addition to the red-suspended Medina, two other players, Vesovic and Huseynov, are also resting due to injury.
Predicted lineup of Qarabag Agdam:
Mahammadaliyev; Bayramov, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Romao, Jankovic; Andrade, Benzia, Zoubir; Xhixha
Ljubljana – Qarabag Agdam Direct comparison / H2H record
For the third time, NK Olimpija Ljubljana and Qarabag FK will meet. In the two previous encounters, both in the 2018/19 CL qualifiers, the Azerbaijani record champions remained unbeaten against the “Zmaji”. Qarabag FK won the first leg away from home 1-0, while the second leg in front of home crowd ended in a goalless draw (0-0).
Ljubljana – Qarabag Agdam tip
Qarabag FK is aiming for the group stage of the Europa League – for the second time in a row, mind you. Last year, the Azerbaijani record champions were already represented in UEFA’s second most important European cup after failing to qualify for the Champions League. As third in the table, Qarabag even made it into the knockout phase of the Conference League.
It is now possible that Qarabag will make it into the Europa League again this year. Ljubljana is a feasible hurdle for the Atlilar. Qarabag FK can be expected to win away from home. The last time the Azerbaijani record champions played in Ljubljana, Qarabag had already won.
We place our bet on Ljubljana vs. Qarabag Agdam as well. For our prediction we use five out of ten possible units. The defense of NK Olimpija did not leave the best impression last weekend. Therefore, it is alternatively also obvious to place bets on a high-scoring encounter.
