Qarabag vs Twente: Azerbaijanis one step away from the main stage - 27.08.2026
On August 27 in Baku, the second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off will take place between Qarabag and Twente. At stake is a spot in the tournament's group stage, and heading into the return leg, the slight advantage is already with the home side. The first match in the Netherlands ended with a 1-0 victory for Qarabag.
- Also read: Bundesliga representative must avoid a cup upset: prediction for Hallescher vs Schalke 04
In Enschede, the Azerbaijani club played with remarkable pragmatism. The team didn't rush forward recklessly, weathered the hosts' early pressure, and waited for their moment. In the 52nd minute, Kady Borges, set up by Musa Gurbanly, scored the game's only goal. After that, Qarabag defended with discipline and saw out a crucial victory.
This is far from Qarabag's first major European test this summer. Before facing Twente, they knocked out Dynamo Kyiv in the third qualifying round—after a 0-1 loss away, the Azerbaijanis responded at home with a confident 2-0 win. Earlier, they had edged past CSKA Sofia in a penalty shootout.
Twente now find themselves in a rather tricky situation. The Dutch side must score in Baku, and even a win by a single goal would only send the tie into extra time. To advance without a nerve-wracking finish, they'll need to win by at least two goals.
But it's far too early to count Twente out. In the third round, they produced a real goal-fest against DAC 1904—after a 6-0 home rout, the return leg finished 3-3. And in the Eredivisie, Twente beat PEC Zwolle 3-1 before facing Qarabag the first time.
This time, though, the scenario is straightforward: Qarabag only need a draw, while Twente are forced to chase the game. That allows the hosts to play on the counter and exploit any openings, especially with the backing of their fans at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium—a strategy that could pay off handsomely.
It's also worth noting the rich history between these two: they've already met several times in European competition, and with the August clash included, the record stands at two wins each and three draws. Everything now comes down to Baku.
The big question: can Twente score early and flip the script? If the Dutch side break the deadlock in the first half, we could be in for a dramatic finale. But if Qarabag withstand the initial onslaught, the pressure on the visitors will only mount. For now, the Azerbaijanis look like the favorites to progress.
My prediction: both teams to score – yes.
