Today, the UEFA Champions League semifinals will conclude.
The result of the PSG vs. Arsenal match matters for Azerbaijan’s champion, Qarabag, as well, Idman.biz reports.
The outcome of the game in Paris could determine Qarabag’s fate in the Champions League. The Aghdam club needs the French champions to win over the two legs.
If PSG advances, Qarabag will start not from the first, but from the second qualifying round of the Champions League. In other words, our champions would progress as if they too had cleared a round alongside PSG.
That’s because, if PSG reaches the final to face Inter, both teams will have already secured their Champions League group stage spots through their domestic leagues. This means that the winner’s automatic berth will be passed down.
As a result, the highest-ranked champion among the clubs in the qualification path — Olympiacos of Greece — would be promoted directly to the group stage.
Olympiacos, originally set to start from the second qualifying round, would leap directly to the group stage, leaving one less team in the second round. This would affect the clubs set to play in the first round, allowing the two highest-ranked teams from that stage to skip ahead to the next round. Compared to Slovan, Qarabag has a lower ranking, making it the second team to benefit and skip the first qualifying round.
This wouldn’t be the first time Qarabag has taken advantage of this new rule, introduced this season — they already started the current season from the second qualifying round.
However, if Arsenal advances instead of PSG, this doesn’t automatically mean Qarabag will miss the second qualifying round. If the Gunners secure a top-four Premier League finish and qualify for the Champions League domestically, both Qarabag and Slovan would still be promoted to the second round. With three matches remaining, Arsenal sits second with 67 points and could clinch this spot in their next match.
If Arsenal knocks out PSG but fails to secure a Champions League berth via the league, Qarabag’s hopes would hinge on the final — meaning Inter would need to defeat the Londoners on May 31 for Qarabag to benefit.
The PSG vs. Arsenal match kicks off at 23:00. In the first leg in London, the Parisians won 1-0.
Vugar Kheyrullayev
Idman.biz
