Qarabag Vs Viktoria Plzen
Qarabag Vs Viktoria Plzen Wednesday, 17 August 2022 – 17:45 (BST)
UEFA Champions League Qualification
Pick: Plzen or Draw/Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: Betfair (bet builder)
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 15 August 2022)
Preview: A spot in the Champions League group stage draw is the prize on offer for both these teams. The first leg gets underway in Azerbaijan, at the Tofiq Behramov Stadium, with Plzen out to preserve their 100% record in Europe this term against Qarabag FK.
UEFA Champions League Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Qarabag – Azerbaijani champions less potent as hosts?
League champions of Azerbaijan’s Premier League for a ninth time last season, where they also made it beyond the group stage in the inaugural Europa Conference League before crashing out at the hands of Marseille. Qarabag remain on course to feature in the Champions League proper for a second time, first doing so in 2017, after ousting opponents from Hungary, Poland and Switzerland in the earlier rounds.
Gurban Gurbanov, now more than five years into his role as head coach, has masterminded the downfalls of Lech Poznan (won 5-2 on aggregate), FC Zurich (5-4) and Ferencvaros (4-2). His side have been at their most dangerous, though, away from home. Qarabag are yet to lose on their travels this term (W2 D1), scoring 10 of 14 qualifying goals in these fixtures. But won only once in three attempts as hosts (D1 L1).
Key Stat: Under 2.5 Goals has delivered a winning selection in six of the seven previous home qualifiers for Qarabag, who scored more than once in just one of these games but did manage four clean sheets.
Plzen – Czech striving to maintain perfect run?
Seven points stood between Viktoria Plzen and Slavia Prague upon the conclusion of the 2021-22 Czech First League, as the former secured the club’s sixth league title, all of which have come since the start of the previous decade. Their recent rise to prominence would also see them compete in the Champions League group stage in 2011, 2013 and 2018. Experience which should serve them well across this tie.
Plzen haven’t put a step out of place in Europe so far this season, recording four straight wins as they eliminated HJK of Finland and Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol, who famously defeated last season’s European champions, Real Madrid, at the Bernabeu. That, coupled with some solid early showings domestically, having made an unbeaten start (W2 D1) to their title defence, means they approach this first leg in excellent shape.
Key Stat: All four Plzen matches in Europe this term have seen Over 2.5 Goals. They would also win both away legs, versus HJK and Sheriff Tiraspol, by the same 2-1 scoreline.
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Qarabag Vs Plzen Betting Advice
Due to their recent skirmishes in European competitions, the sides have encountered each other on a couple of previous occasion. Their only competitive meetings, however, arrived in 2016, as the pair battled it out for a spot in the UCL Play-Offs. Over two closely-fought legs (1-1, 0-0), in which there were only two goals registered, it was Plzen who emerged victorious through the now defunct away goals rule.
Qarabag Vs Viktoria Plzen – Key Facts:
- The teams have met twice before in a competitive setting. Both matches failed to produce a winner, with the encounter in Azerbaijan producing a 1-1 draw which resulted in Plzen progressing on away goals due the sides drawing 0-0 in Czech Republic.
- Qarabag have won two of their three away matches in Europe this season but just one of the three held in Azerbaijan (W1 D1 L1). Contrastingly, Viktoria Plzen boast a 100% record thus far, winning 2-1 away from home vs HJK and Sheriff Tiraspol.
- Tomas Chory has scored a first-half penalty in both of Plzen’s away Champions League matches this term. Meanwhile, Qarabag conceded from a penalty in their 3-2 home win over FZ Zurich in the competition’s second qualifying round.
With goals generally few and far between when Qarabag are the ones hosting, we can probably a not too dissimilar outcome from their previous meetings. Value, though, rests with the visitors who have been flawless this European campaign. Plzen are W6 D1 across league and Europe this season and should, at the very least, take a goal away with them having scored twice in all four away outings this term.
Best Betting Odds – Qarabag Vs Viktoria Plzen
Qarabag – 13/10 (Bet365)
Draw – 11/5 (Betway)
Viktoria Plzen – 9/4 (Ladbrokes)
