Qarabag (Aze) vs Ludogorets (Bul) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-08-05 16:00.
[p]The third qualifying round for this season’s new-look version of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) has offered up some tasty ties, one of them pitting Azerbaijan’s QarabaÄź against Bulgaria’s Ludogorets. QarabaÄź will be desperate to claim one of the additional four spots available compared to last season’s UCL format, but having been knocked out of the UCL at the qualification stage in five of the last six seasons, that’s far from guaranteed. [/p]
[p]Home advantage in the first leg has been granted to the in-form QarabaÄź, whose European journey this season started in the second round where they coasted to a 7-0 aggregate win over Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar. The Horsemen then made a winning start to their defence of their Azerbaijan Premier League crown by beating Araz 4-1, extending their impressive unbeaten streak to eight games (W7, D1).[/p]
[p]Looking to end Qarabağ’s quest for a first UCL proper appearance since 2017/18 are Ludogorets, who’ve already come through two qualifying rounds to set up this clash with the Azerbaijani champions. The Eagles’ campaign began in early July as they overcame Dinamo Batumi of Georgia 3-2 on aggregate, before beating Belarusian side Dinamo Minsk 2-1 over two legs in the second round. [/p]
[p]Ludogorets will be looking to reach the UCL league phase with their last participation in the main draw of Europe’s premier club competition being way back in 2016/17. Playing away from home first could serve as a severe disadvantage, as Georgi Dermendzhiev’s troops haven’t travelled well thus far, losing both of the away legs 1-0 in their prior two qualifying rounds.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Qarabağ’s Juninho netted four of his side’s seven goals against Lincoln Red Imps – all four came in the first half of those games, with three of them on home soil. The battle to make an immediate impact will be shared with Bernard Tekpetey, who has struck the match opener in eight of his last 11 goalscoring appearances for Ludogorets. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Both teams have scored in just one of Ludogorets’ last 12 away games. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Peter Stavrinou[/i][/p]