Seeking to make it back-to-back wins in the Champions League, Qarabag will welcome FC Copenhagen to the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Qurban Qurbanov’s hosts caused a major shock on matchday one when staging a dramatic comeback from two goals down to defeat Benfica 3-2 in Lisbon.
The Horsemen have since recorded successive wins in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the most recent of which saw them claim a 2-0 victory over Gabala on Friday night.
Seeking to remain on an upward curve, Qarabag will look to make it two wins from two in this season’s Champions League by overcoming Copenhagen.
The Danish giants kicked off their continental campaign by conceding a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
Jacob Neestrup’s side will come into this clash off the back of a narrow 2-1 win away at Sonderjyske in the Danish Superliga on Saturday.
How the bookies view it: Close contest on the cards
The bookmakers are struggling to separate the pair, with Qarabag marginal outsiders at 17/10 on Boylesports while FC Copenhagen are narrow 7/5 favourites with the same firm.
As already mentioned, the visitors opened up with a draw and another stalemate here can be backed at 12/5 on Boylesports.
Head to head: A rare encounter
Qarabag and FC Copenhagen will cross paths for just the third time on Wednesday evening, with the previous two meetings coming in the qualification rounds of the Champions League back in 2017. Both teams won their respective home games, with Qarabag progressing to the group stage courtesy of a penalty shootout success.
Players to watch: Duran on-song?
Having scored one and set up another of Qarabag’s three goals against Benfica on matchday one, Camilo Duran looks overpriced to register another goal involvement here at 15/8 on Bet365.
Jordan Larsson has scored in two of his last three starts for Copenhagen, making the Swedish striker an attractive option in the anytime goalscorer market on Wednesday evening at 12/5 on Bet365.
Predicted line-ups
Qarabag are set to have a clean bill of health heading into Wednesday evening’s clash against Copenhagen in Baku.
FC Copenhagen are carrying a fairly heavy injury list at the moment, with Andreas Cornelius, Jonathan Moalem, Magnus Mattsson and Oliver Hojer all set to miss out for the visitors.
Qarabag: Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarguliyev; Bicalho, Jankovic; Andrade, Kady, Zoubir; Duran
FC Copenhagen: Kotarski; Lopez, Hatzidiakos, Pereira, Huescas; Lerager, Delaney; Achouri, Elyounoussi, Larsson; Claesson
Anything else catch the eye?
Given that both teams will be targeting three points from this contest, over 2.5 goals holds plenty of appeal at 4/5 on Boylesports.
This bet would have comfortably paid out in each of the pair’s respective outings on matchday one.
Elsewhere, Lukas Lerager looks worthy of support to commit two or more fouls during this contest at even-money (1/1) on Bet365 – the Copenhagen midfielder has committed a minimum of two fouls in three of his last four outings on continental duty.
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