Can the Georgians come back after a 0-3 defeat in the first leg? Conference League prediction: Torpedo Kutaisi vs Zira
Zira
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 18:00 Central European Time, the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium in Kutaisi will host the second leg of the UEFA Conference League 2026/2027 first qualifying round. Georgian side Torpedo will attempt a miracle against Azerbaijan’s Zira.
The first leg, played a week ago in Baku (at the Sumgayit Stadium), ended in a crushing defeat for the Georgian team—0-3. Zira has virtually settled all questions about which club advances, and now the home side have nothing left to lose but their honor in front of their fans.
Torpedo Kutaisi are in a prolonged slump. The team has failed to win in five consecutive official matches, losing four of them. In the first match against Zira, the Kutaisi defense fell apart, allowing their opponents to score three times. Overturning such a deficit in European competition is almost unheard of, but at home, Torpedo must play aggressively to break their losing streak and go out with a bang.
Zira, meanwhile, delivered a flawless home performance. Defender Ruan Renato bagged a brace (one from the penalty spot), while Davit Volkovi also got on the scoresheet. With such a dominant lead, Rashad Sadyghov's men head to Georgia with a single objective: to calmly, pragmatically, and injury-free preserve their advantage. There’s no reason for Zira to force the issue or leave themselves exposed at the back.
Expect Torpedo to charge forward from the opening whistle, hoping for an early goal to spark some intrigue. Zira are known for their organized defensive structure. The Azerbaijanis will sit deep, slow the tempo, and try to kill the game, waiting for counterattacking chances that will inevitably arise as the Georgians throw men forward.
The two teams have only met once in their history—just a week ago in the first leg of this Conference League round:
- 08.07.2026 (First leg): Zira - Torpedo Kutaisi - 3:0 (Goals: Ruan Renato (brace), Volkovi).
What’s the bet?
Zira will travel to Kutaisi with a defensive mindset, intent on conserving energy. With a 3-0 cushion, the Azerbaijani club will do everything possible to turn this match into a slow, scrappy, and uneventful affair. If the Georgians don’t score in the opening 20 minutes, the game will settle into a lull. My prediction: Under 2.5 total goals.
