Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction, Tips & Odds – 07.03.2024
Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction 07.03.2024. In the first leg of the Europa League round of 16, Qarabag will host Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday at 6:45 PM at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium.
The hosts defeated Braga in the round of 32 with an aggregate score of 6-5, while the guests qualified directly after finishing first in their group.
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Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen Odds
Qarabag Team News
Qarabag secured the runner-up spot in their Europa League group and subsequently made history by reaching the round of 16 in a European competition for the first time ever after defeating Braga with an aggregate score of 6-5 in the qualifying round. The Azerbaijani team won the first leg 4-2 in Portugal before being forced into extra time with ten players in the return leg after losing 2-0 at home in the initial 90 minutes. Nevertheless, Gurban Gurbanov’s team ultimately emerged victorious despite facing numerous challenges, thanks to two late goals from Matheus Silva and Nariman Akhundzada, with the latter scoring in the 122nd minute, leading to jubilant scenes from the home crowd.
Qarabag is currently experiencing a surge of excitement as their impressive performances in Europe coincide with their dominant form in the Azerbaijani Premier League. They have won 13 matches and drawn one in their last 14 outings, holding a commanding 23-point lead at the top of the table. They need only 11 points from their remaining matches to secure their third consecutive title. With such a comfortable lead in the league, Gurbanov and his team can now focus on the challenging round of 16 clash in the Europa League against Leverkusen, a team that defeated Qarabag 5-1 in Germany during the group stage before narrowly winning 1-0 in Azerbaijan this season.
In terms of absentees, Qarabag’s defender Kevin Medina remains sidelined due to a long-standing injury, while both Julio Romao and Elvin Cafarquliyev are suspended, with Cafarquliyev having been sent off in the previous round. Cafarquliyev’s absence may lead to either Maksim Medvedev or Abbas Huseynov starting at left-back, while Patrick Andrade could be drafted in to replace Romao in midfield.
Goalkeeper Andrey Lunev, who joined Qarabag from Leverkusen last summer, is expected to face his former club, while top scorer Juninho, with 21 goals in 40 appearances this season, is set to lead the attacking line.
Bayer Leverkusen Team News
Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive unbeaten streak, now standing at 34 matches across all competitions, following a 2-0 victory against Koln away on Sunday. This win further boosts their aspirations of securing the Bundesliga title. The early expulsion of Koln’s forward Jan Thielmann in the 14th minute worked to Leverkusen’s advantage as they went on to claim their 30th win in all competitions, marking their sixth consecutive triumph. Goals from Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo sealed the victory for them.
Leverkusen has taken advantage of Bayern’s recent downturn and currently holds a commanding lead in the Bundesliga race, sitting 10 points ahead of the perennial champions with 10 matches remaining. While they will be mindful of their upcoming fixture against Wolfsburg on Sunday, their immediate focus now shifts to the Europa League as they aim to progress beyond the round of 16 for the third consecutive season, with hopes of surpassing their semi-final finish from the 2022/23 campaign.
In the Europa League, Leverkusen stands out as the only team this season to have completed the group stage with a flawless record from six matches, a feat not achieved since Arsenal in the 2020/21 season. Meanwhile, their six-match winning streak is the longest in the competition for a single season since Villarreal’s nine-game run, culminating in their triumph in the 2020/21 season.
In terms of injuries, Leverkusen continues to be without key players such as striker Victor Boniface and defender Arthur. Manager Alonso faces a decision between giving backup goalkeeper Matej Kovar, who featured in five out of six group stage matches, a chance or sticking with the first-choice goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky. Defensively, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou will be competing for starting spots, while Exequiel Palacios, who recently returned from a thigh injury, will vie with Robert Andrich for a midfield role alongside Granit Xhaka.
Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen H2H
26.10.2023. Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag 5:1
09.11.2023. Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen 0:1
Injuries and suspensions
Qarabag: Julio Romao, Elvin Cafarquliyev, Kevin Medina
Bayer Leverkusen: Victor Boniface, Arthur
Expected Lineups
Qarabag (4-2-3-1): Lunyov; Silva, Mustafazada, Guseynov, Medvedev; P. Andrade, Jankovic; L. Andrade, Benzia, Zoubir; Juninho
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Kossounou, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Adli, Wirtz; Schick
Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction
Qarabag is the underdog in this match and will need another outstanding defensive performance to avoid defeat. However, stopping a team like Leverkusen will be a significant challenge for the Azerbaijani side, and Xabi Alonso’s team shouldn’t have much trouble advancing to the next round of the competition. Therefore, we believe that the visitors will settle the matter of the quarterfinalist in this match, and our betting suggestion is a victory for Bayer Leverkusen with a goal difference greater than 1.5.
Kick-off Time: Thursday, 07.03.2024, 6:45 AM Local Time (GMT 0), 18:45 CET
Prediction: Handicap Bayer Leverkusen (-1.5)
Odds (when tipped): 2.02
Sportsbook: 20bet
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