This week sees the start of another UEFA Nations League campaign and Friday evening features this upcoming clash in League C Group 3 between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan at Astana Arena with both teams looking to make a positive start to their Nations League campaign.
Following an expected unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign which resulted in Kazakhstan finishing bottom of Group D with just 3 points to their name, they nevertheless picked up points in draws with Ukraine (home and away) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (away).
✅ Қазақстан жастар құрамасы ЕУРО-2023 іріктеу кезеңі аясында Дания және Түркиямен өтетін ойындарға дайындықты бастады.#KFFTeam #U21🇰🇿 pic.twitter.com/gwWgYr8eaV— Kazakhstan Football Federation (@KFF_Team) May 26, 2022
✅ Қазақстан жастар құрамасы ЕУРО-2023 іріктеу кезеңі аясында Дания және Түркиямен өтетін ойындарға дайындықты бастады.#KFFTeam #U21🇰🇿 pic.twitter.com/gwWgYr8eaV
These results alone would have provided a welcome boost to Kazakhstan’s confidence and indeed, they accounted for Moldova in the play-off for promotion up to League C which saw Kazakhstan run out winners by way of a penalty shoot-out after the aggregate scores were level at 2-2.
Kazakhstan have also registered a 1-0 home win over Tajikistan in an international friendly as well back in November of last year.
So the hosts will head into this Nations League opener in fairly confident mood.
Azerbaijan also finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying Group A but the visitors could only muster a single point from their eight group matches which was courtesy of a 1-1 draw away from home at Republic of Ireland.
However, having managed to record just one win from their last 20 matches overall in all international competitions (which came in the form of a 2-1 win away at Belarus in a friendly), Azerbaijan look to have their work cut out if they’re to walk away from the Astana Arena with any sort of result here on Friday evening.
In addition, this result at Belarus has also been Azerbaijan’s only highlight on their travels as well.
The visitors have produced just one win from their last 12 outings on the road in all competitions.
Azerbaijan have also failed to score in six of these 12 away games so the best that the visitors can hope for here appears to be to hold out for a possible draw.
Kazakhstan hold a superior record over Azerbaijan as the hosts have lost just one of their last eight meetings overall against their visitors.
The hosts look set to take something from this encounter and look a decent prospect with the handicap.