David Flower
Dailysports's expert
Qarabag FK
FC FCSB
One of the matches of the 7th round of the Europa League group stage will be played on Thursday in Baku, where local Qarabag will face FCSB. I suggest a bet on goals in this match with good chances of success.
Match preview
Qarabag suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Elfsborg in the last round. This disappointing result marked the sixth loss for the club in the last seven Europa League matches. Moreover, the Azerbaijani team failed to score for the third time in this season's competition.
Currently, the team is in 33rd place in the standings with three points, and any defeat in this match will close their doors to the playoffs. A particular concern is Qarabag's home record – the team has failed to win in regulation time in their last five Europa League home matches, earning only one draw and suffering four losses. Qarabag heads into the match against FCSB after a 3-2 victory over Shamakhi in the league.
On the other hand, the Romanian team secured a goalless draw in their away match against Hoffenheim in the last round. This result extended FCSB's unbeaten streak in the Europa League, with the team not losing in seven of the last eight matches, registering four wins and three draws.
Notably, the Romanian side kept a clean sheet for the third consecutive match, showcasing their defensive reliability. FCSB has 11 points and occupies 10th place in the overall standings. A victory in this upcoming match will guarantee the team's place in the playoffs, providing additional motivation at the crucial stage of the group stage. Over the weekend, the Romanian league resumed, and FCSB drew 1-1 with Hermannstadt at home.
Probable lineups
- Qarabag: Kohalski, Jafarov, Medina, Guseynov, Guseynov, Yankovich, Romao, Zubir, Benzia, Andrade, Juninho
- FCSB: Tarnovanu, Radunovic, Chiriches, Dava, Popescu, Eijoma, Lihandru, Mikulescu, Olaru, Stefanescu, Birlica
Match facts and head-to-head
- Only one of Qarabag's last five matches has seen a "Both teams to score" bet win.
- In three of FCSB's last matches, both teams have scored.
- The "Total over 2.5" bet has won in two of the last five matches.
Prediction
Bookmakers give a slight advantage to the home team, with Qarabag's victory priced at 2.35. The Romanians rarely show attacking form in away matches in the Europa League. We suggest taking "Total under 2.5" with a coefficient of 1.93.
