The UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds kick off this week. It is an early start for a number of teams hoping to qualify for the tournament’s group stage.
On Tuesday, one of the big first round qualifying matches features Poland’s Lech Poznan and Azerbaijan’s Qarabag FK. The winner of the two-legged first round qualifier will progress to play Switzerland’s FC Zurich in the second qualifying round.
Jesteśmy dumni, jesteśmy stąd.🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/sQ6NLujStV— Mistrz Polski 🥇 (@LechPoznan) July 4, 2022
Jesteśmy dumni, jesteśmy stąd.🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/sQ6NLujStV
Qarabag are the only Azerbaijanian team to advance to the group stage of the Champions League. The reigning champions of the Azerbaijanian Premier League will fancy their chances against the winners of the Polish top flight in this two-legged tie.
Over the last decade, Qarabag have established themselves as a team regularly competing in UEFA competitions, while Lech Poznan are hoping to make a run at the group stage.
Lech Poznan have not started their league campaign as yet. The Polish champions will start domestic play on July 15, three days after the second leg of the Champions League first round qualifier.
Poznan have seen change this offseason with title-winning coach Maciej Skorza departing for former Anderlecht manager John van den Brom. Lech Poznan also lost rising star Jakub Kaminski to Wolfsburg.
Last season, Lech Poznan won the Polish top flight for the first time in seven seasons. European appearances have been few and far between for the Railway Men.
Qarabag won a domestic double last season to reassert their dominance over football in Azerbaijan. The domestic league in Azerbaijan hasn’t started yet either. It won’t begin until August, which means Qarabag’s squad will also lack match fitness.
Despite not playing meaningful fixtures, Qarabag did play friendlies versus Botosani, Holstein Kiel, and Universitatea Craiova to prepare for the Champions League qualifiers. Qarabag went unbeaten in all three fixtures.
This time of the season is difficult for both clubs as several players work on transfer to new team. Neither team will have the full squad they would want to have when playing in such important matches.
Kaminski has already signed with Wolfsburg and midfielder Jan Sykora is unlikely to play. Sykora is nearing a move to Viktoria Plzen.
Poznan have signed Heorhiy Tsitaishvili on loan from Dynamo Kyiv, but he is unavailable. Forward Mikael Ishak will start for Poznan. He scored 18 goals in last season's Ekstraklasa.
Qarabag's hopes in front of goal will be led by Brazilian forward Kady. He scored five goals in the Europa Conference League as Qarabag reached the last 16 playoffs.
Qarabag lost midfielder Patrick Andrade to Partizan Belgrade on a free transfer this offseason. The club did sign winger Marko Jankovic from Hapoel Tel Aviv. He should start. Tuesday’s first round Champions League qualifier should be a thriller between two hungry teams.
Forebet predicts a win for Qarabağ FK in a low-scoring encounter.