"I rate Qarabag’s chances against Shkendija highly."
This is what UEFA coaching course instructor Arif Asadov said in an interview with AZERTAC, speaking about the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round between Qarabag and North Macedonia’s Shkendija to be held today, Idman.biz reports.
The expert stated that the Agdam club is superior to its opponent in terms of experience, finances, and player quality: “Of course, no team participating in the Champions League is weak. Shkendija managed to beat Romania’s FCSB, a team that challenged Qarabag. We must not forget this. It shows that they are a strong unit. That’s why this opponent should be taken seriously. However, overall, Qarabag is a more complete and stable team compared to Shkendija. The Agdam club has been competing in European cups for many years, has faced opponents of various levels, and has gained significant experience. This factor can play a crucial role at this stage. However, it won’t be easy for our representative. Qarabag is not yet in ideal form, and that could cause certain difficulties. But we know that Gurban Gurbanov’s team tends to improve and increase its tempo as the tournament progresses.”
He also shared thoughts on Qarabag’s potential opponents in the next round: “If they advance past this stage, they will face the winner of the Ludogorets (Bulgaria) vs. Ferencvaros (Hungary) tie in the play-offs. It’s hard to say anything in advance. First, they must overcome the North Macedonian club. Qarabag is used to this kind of pressure and competition. For years, they’ve been playing in the group stages of European competitions. Therefore, the identity of the opponent doesn’t matter. The Azerbaijani champion has played more matches and achieved better results than potential rivals.”
According to Asadov, the quick adaptation of new signings will positively impact the team’s performance: “New transfers must strengthen the team. It’s very important that they adapt as quickly as possible because tougher and more demanding matches lie ahead. We hope our representative will continue to improve its game.”
The Shkendija vs. Qarabag match will take place at the “Todor Proeski” stadium in Skopje and will kick off at 22:00 Baku time. The return leg will be played in Baku one week later.
Idman.biz
