Qarabag vs Braga preview, team news, match tickets and prediction
A|zerbaijani-based outfit Qarabag comes into the first round of the Europa League knockout stages having finished group H of the 2023/2024 Europa League group stage as runner-up. Their group featured Swedish side Hacken, high-flying Bayer 04 Leverkusen under the managerial instructions of former Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso, and Norwegian team Molde.
Qarabag initially defeated Lincoln Red Imps 6-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League playoffs. But they were eventually condemned to a Europa League spot by Rakow Czestochowa following a narrow 4-3 loss over both ties. Across the group stages, Qarabag amassed a total of 10 points, eight behind group toppers Bayer 04 Leverkusen who failed to drop points for the entirety of the campaign.
The Azerbaijani boys’ group stage losses came to the German team. Victor Boniface’s 94th-minute penalty in Baku dealt them a 1-nil loss at the tail end of the game. This came after they lost 5-1 in Germany with a brace from Alex Grimaldo on either side of halftime accompanied by goals from wonderkid Florian Wirtz, Edmond Tapsoba, and Victor Okoh Boniface. Bar Leverkusen, only Molde took points off them in Norway as Bahlul Mustafazede’s 95th-minute goal ensured they took a share of the spoils following Kristian Eriksen’s quick-fire brace in the second half of play.
Leandro Andrade’s lone goal secured a vital 3 points in their other encounter with Molde while Hacken fell to their hands on both occasions with a 2-1, 0-1 home and away victory respectively. Leandro Andrade and Juninho have both amassed 4 and 3 goals across their European exploits and Qurban Qurbanov’s side will want to progress past this stage.
SC Braga over the summer recruited the services of veteran Portuguese players Jose Fonte and Joao Moutinho to join 29-year-old Ricardo Horta in adding experience to their seemingly young squad in preparation for their Champions League group stage. In a group involving 14-time record-winning Real Madrid and defending Serie A champions SSC Napoli, battling it out for 3rd place with German-based Union Berlin which rounded up the group looked plausible from the onset.
They recorded just 4 points across the campaign with all of it coming in their encounters with Union Berlin. In the first leg, Sheraldo Becker had pegged them 2 goals in quick succession in the 37th minute. It required a 94th-minute Andre Castro goal at the death of play to secure them a win after Sikou Niakate and Burma had kickstarted their comeback in Berlin.
The return leg in Braga marred by Sikou Niakate’s early red card also required an Alvaro Djalo goal from behind to earn a point with Robin Gosens opening the scoring for the Germans. Against SSC Napoli in Braga, it was the same Sikou Niakate's own goal which gave the Italians a win just 4 minutes after Bruma got them back in the game. The reverse fixture in Naples saw another own goal; this time by Serder Saatci and the returning Victor Osimhen rounded it up in the 33rd minute. Against Real Madrid they stood no chance with Rodrygo Goes scoring in both their 1-2 and 3-0 defeats to the Los Blancos.
So far, there are no head-to-head fixtures between these sides.
Match tickets
This thrilling clash between both sides seeking qualification is pegged for the Tofiq Bakhramov Stadium on Thursday, the 22nd of February, 2024 at 17:45 GMT.
The 31,200-capacity stadium will host this exciting fixture that has the potential to deliver drama in abundance.
Getting tickets for the Qarabag vs Braga tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
Lineups
Qurban Qurbanov's side come into this encounter with no fresh injuries and will be hopeful it continues that way as Braga will be ready to blow hot as they seek to get past their Azerbaijani counterparts and make it to the next round.
Leandro Andrade and Juninho have been the names to call for Qarabag right from their qualification period to the group stages and the gaffer will certainly be hopeful they can continue such fine form heading into the next round. Yassine Benzia wasn't named as a part of the Algerian team that graced the African Cup of Nations so he should expectedly shore up the midfield in playmaking duties.
The dynamic pivot in Brazilian defensive midfielder Julio Romao and his Montenegro counterpart Marko Jankovic will sit in front of the backline. 63-caps Azerbaijani national team central defender Badavi Huseynov and the slightly younger Bahlul Mustafazede will take up the spots in the heart of defence.
Qarabag FK XI: Lunyov; Vesovic, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarguliyev; Jankovic, P Andrade; L Andrade, Benzia, Zoubir; Juninho
2016 European championship winners Jose Fonte and Joao Moutinho came in over to shore up Artur Jorge's team and have slotted in rather easily into the lineup. They have the required experience to help navigate such difficult encounters.
Ricardo Horta is the most experienced of the attacking contingent and should be able to guide the likes of Abel Ruiz, Alvaro Djalo, Rodrigo Salazar, and Bruma in offensive duties.
Braga XI - Matheus; Borja, Fonte, Oliveira, Gomez; Moutinho, Carvalho; Djalo, Salazar, Horta; Ruiz.
Prediction
Qarabag will be hopeful of translating their domestic dominance across the European stages and the Portuguese side will certainly be waiting for quality opposition as it's their game to lose.
There is plenty to play for in this particular contest and both teams will want to give it their best shot as the tie will be decided in this return leg.
Qarabag 1-2 SC Braga
