Qarabag vs IFK Goteborg Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Azerbaijani side Qarabag won the Azerbaijan Premier League title for a third consecutive season earlier this year. Their domestic dominance has seen them become regulars in European competition, and their 2014/2015 Europa League playoff round win against Dutch side FC Twente makes them only the second Azerbaijani team to ever advance to the group stage of a European competition. Qarabag have a challenge ahead if they hope to make same progress once again here. The hosts trail 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg and their disappointing knockout from the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round a few weeks back is certainly still fresh on their mind.

Sweden’s top flight league, the Allsvenskan, is already well under way unlike in Azerbaijan. European competition finds itself into IFK Goteborg’s schedule after nineteen domestic league fixtures and the visitors are already well into the rhythm of competitive football. Goteborg held their own defensively against the Azerbaijani champions in their 1-0 win at home in the first leg. The Swedes had fewer chances and attempts on goal but ultimately sealed themselves victory in the first leg thanks to Danish midfielder Mads Albaek’s stunning long range free kick. Goteborg have started from the bottom in this competition, beating Llandudno, Piast Gliwice, and HJK over the first three qualifying rounds to qualify for the playoffs, and are now just one draw away from qualifying through to the group stages.

Hosts Qarabag are favourites for the bookies here, though a Qarabag win at 1/2 seems somewhat short considering the comparable squad strength. Admittedly, travelling to fixtures in foreign countries takes a strain on the away side but even so IFK Goteborg are well experienced with the process, having played nine away fixtures in European competition over the last two years. Not to mention that the Swedish side have a very decent record on the road. Goteborg come into this off the back of three consecutive away wins in the Europa League and they have only lost one of their last nine Europa League away matches (W5 D2 L1). While Qarabag had one of the best home records domestically in the Azerbaijani top flight last season, their performances at home in Europe are much more inconsistent. Qarabag have drawn two and lost one of their last five at home in the Europa League and they have drawn three of their last four at home in the Champions League.

With both sides having similar squad strengths and considering their respective forms in Europe, we feel that draw or IFK Goteborg at 6/4 seems like the best value bet here. We also like a 1-1 draw at 13/2 with bet365 as a correct score bet for this Europa League second leg match.