"The final two European cup spots will go to Araz-Nakhchivan and Turan Tovuz."
Former national team coach Arif Asadov said this in a statement to Report, Idman.biz reports.
The expert believes that the current standings in the Misli Premier League are unlikely to change significantly:
"The main contenders for the final two European spots are Araz-Nakhchivan and Turan Tovuz. I think Araz-Nakhchivan will likely secure third place by earning just one point from their last two matches. Sabah could still catch up to Turan Tovuz, but the Tovuz side only needs to get one point from their remaining games. Also, if Sabah wins the Cup final, then Zira and Araz-Nakhchivan will represent our country in the UEFA Conference League. In that case, Turan Tovuz could be left out. But I believe the current top four in the Premier League standings will remain unchanged."
Asadov does not rule out a surprise result in the Azerbaijan Cup final:
"In terms of squad and experience, Qarabag naturally has the upper hand. In recent times, the team has not lost when reaching the final. However, for this season not to be considered a failure, it is crucial for Sabah to win the Cup. Alongside the team, their new head coach Vasili Berezutski also needs to prove himself. So we could witness a surprise result. Much will depend on how the game unfolds."
For context, Qarabag has already secured the championship title in the Premier League with 83 points, while Zira has locked in second place with 70 points. Currently, Araz-Nakhchivan sits third with 55 points, and Turan Tovuz is in fourth with 49 points.
The Azerbaijan Cup final between Qarabag and Sabah will take place on May 31 at the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium in Sumgayit.
Idman.biz
