Qarabag v APOEL
Tuesday 13th August 1730hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Marathon Bet
Odds: 69/100 (odds taken 19.00 GMT, Monday 12 August)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/5 | 11/5 | 23/10 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on August 12, 2019 at 19.00)
Qarabag turned in a great performance in Cyprus last week to take a lead into this second leg against APOEL. Can they finish the job and move into the playoff round of Champions League qualification?
Champions League Qualification Betting at Marathon Bet
Qarabag Preview – Can Azerbaijanis build on first leg lead and make it to the playoffs?
The Azerbaijani champions started their Champions League qualification campaign at the very first round back at the beginning of July. A 2-0 aggregate over their Albanian counterparts was a safe if not overly confident success to get them on their way. Next up was Irish outfit Dundalk. After a challenging away game which ended 1-1, Qarabag ultimately proved too strong at home – winning 4-1 on aggregate. Those were two ties that they would be expected to get past but being drawn against APOEL was a raising of the stakes. The Cypriots are also regulars in these qualifiers so to win 2-1 away from home in the first leg was a significant result. It’s also telling that Qarabag have been away from home in the first leg of the previous two rounds. And they have been at their best when at home in the second leg on the other two occasions.
Qarabag have reached the group stages of the Champions League just once before. That came back in 2017. Last year they were eliminated at this stage going out narrowly to BATE. It would be a severe disappointment if they are unable to reach the playoffs at least now they have that impressive first leg win.
APOEL Preview – Are APOEL capable of getting back into this tie after disappointing home loss?
APOEL have performed remarkably well in Champions League qualification down the years considering their resources. Since season 2009/10 APOEL have qualified for the group stage four times. The most recent of those appearances came in 2017/18 when finishing bottom in a group that contained Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham. They have work to do if they wish to reach the same stage this year, however, first having to negotiate this difficult looking second leg. To put that loss into some context, it was APOEL’s first home defeat in a Champions League qualifier since 2015 and just their second in 15 years. They are traditionally very strong at home and have even been reliant on it to progress from these qualifying rounds.
Due to their more impressive recent performances in these qualifying rounds, APOEL have only played one round previous to this. Sutjeska from Montenegro proved to be little in the way of a challenge as they cruised to a 4-0 aggregate win. Summer signing Andrija Pavolovic scored a hat-trick in the second leg of that game but was unable to impact the first leg against Qarabag. You would imagine he will be very important to APOEL’s chances of finding at least the two goals they need to make it through to the playoffs.
Key-Facts – Qarabag v APOEL
- Qarabag were impressive when winning 2-1 in Cyprus last week and have yet to lose in Champions League qualification this season
- APOEL last reached the group stage of the Champions League back in 2017 but will have to overturn this deficit away from home
- All four of the meetings between these two clubs ended with two or fewer goals being scored in them last season
Qarabag v APOEL Betting Advice
As good as APOEL have been at home in these qualifying rounds down the years, their away from leaves a lot more to be desired. The Cypriots have managed just five wins on their travels in the Champions League in the last 10 years. And they know they not only have to win but do so by scoring at least twice. Failure to do so will mean Qarabag progress to the playoffs and face either Ajax or PAOK in what would be a very difficult two-legged tie.
In one way the visitors have little to lose. Considering they are not expected to to overturn last week’s defeat. Qarabag are strong at home themselves and know how to defend a lead. They have not conceded more than a goal in a home qualifier game – stretching back to 2014. I do not envisage that changing here and expect a low-scoring encounter. That will suit the hosts as they look to finish off the tie.
