Qabala vs Anderlecht Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Qabala managed to hang on to their top spot in the Azerbaijan Premyer Liqa on Saturday as they beat Zira 1-0 to leave them at the top of the table on goal difference. However, it’s been far from an easy ride so far this season.

That victory is just their second win in their last seven games in all competitions, with two defeats and three draws making up the rest of the results. In the Europa League they have lost all four games so far, and with 2nd placed Anderlecht already having eight points this already leaves them out of the running for qualification.

Qabala’s home form has been marginally better with three wins from their last five, but they have been beaten by both Mainz and St Etienne in the Europa League at home and have conceded five goals in these two matches. Defensively they look completely out of their depth in the Europa League, a fact that is further illustrated by their 3-1 loss in Anderlecht in September.

The visitors, on the other hand, are well in the running for qualification to the knockout stages. They are three points ahead of 3rd placed Mainz and are level on points with St Etienne. A win on Thursday could take them clear at the top of the group.

It’s not been an easy month or so for Anderlecht either though. Their 3-2 loss to Zulte-Waragem on Sunday made it three defeats, two draws, and two wins in their last seven outings in all competitions. One of those victories was a 6-1 hammering of Mainz though, so they’re looking fairly comfortable in the Europa League.

Star striker Lukasz Teodorczyk bagged two goals in that hammering of Mainz to further boost his very impressive goals tally. He has now scored four Europa League goals and 11 in the league. Seven of these 15 goals have come away from home and he has netted six in his last five games, so backing him for our anytime goalscorer predictions looks like a banker to me.

Looking at Qabala’s defensive showings at home so far in this European campaign I think this could be a high scoring one. Anderlecht have scored 11 goals in their four Europa League games and are facing a Qabala side who have seen a total of eight goals in their two home matches. This makes odds of 7/4 for an Anderlecht Win and Over 2.5 Goals look a good value backing, and I’m going for that along with a 3-1 correct score prediction at 14/1.