“All three of our clubs playing today have a chance to progress.”
According to Idman.biz, Arif Asadov, an instructor at UEFA coaching courses held in Baku, said this in an interview with AZERTAC when speaking about the second-leg matches of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round to be played by “Sabah,” “Zira,” and “Araz-Nakhchivan.”
The expert stated that among the Azerbaijani representatives, “Sabah” has the most realistic chance after defeating Moldova’s “Petrocub” 2-0 in the first leg: “They’ve practically secured 70-80% of the qualification to the next round. But this should not lead to complacency. They must approach the match seriously, play attacking football, and score goals.
As for the match between “Zira” and Croatia’s “Hajduk,” the advantage lies slightly with the opponent. They returned from Baku with a scoring draw and will be playing at home today. It remains to be seen how well “Zira” can withstand the pressure. However, we should also note that our representative has experience in such situations. Last year, they overcame a strong opponent like “Osijek” in a similar scenario.”
The former head coach of the Azerbaijani national team also expressed confidence that “Araz-Nakhchivan” will play with greater motivation following their 2-1 home win over Greece’s “Aris”:
“Their chances are not low. But the opposing side is also strong and eager. They may show a different performance at home. In this regard, the Nakhchivan team will face a tough challenge. They must avoid defensive gaps and set up the game tactically. If they carry out the coach’s instructions properly, they can advance to the next round.”
For reference, the “Sabah” – “Petrocub” match will kick off at 20:00 at Bank Respublika Arena, “Aris” – “Araz-Nakhchivan” will begin at 22:15 at Kleantis Vikelidis Stadium in Thessaloniki, and “Hajduk” – “Zira” will start at 23:00 at Poljud Stadium in Split.
Idman.biz
