Athletic Club aim for first Champions League points against high-flying Qarabağ

Athletic Club is set to host Qarabağ FK on Wednesday at San Mamés, determined to secure their first points in the current Champions League phase. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani side aims to continue their impressive run after winning their opening matches.

Aims and Current Standings

This fixture marks the first encounter between Athletic Club and Qarabağ FK in UEFA competition. Currently, Athletic Club sits at 35th place in the 36-team table, having suffered defeats against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, putting them without any points.

• Athletic Club: 0 points
• Defeats: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund

In contrast, Qarabağ FK has made a remarkable start, winning both of their initial matches. They triumphed 3-2 against Benfica away and secured a 2-0 home victory against Copenhagen, currently ranking 10th in their group.

• Qarabağ FK: 6 points
• Victories:
  • 3-2 against Benfica
  • 2-0 against Copenhagen

Match Details

The match is scheduled to kick off at 16:45 UTC (18:45 CET) and will be officiated by Croatian referee Igor Pajac. Athletic Club is facing a challenging situation with key players unavailable. Centre-back Yeray Álvarez is suspended, while long-term absentees include Beñat Prados and Unai Egiluz. Additionally, Aymeric Laporte’s participation is uncertain due to an ankle injury.

Tactical Setup

Coach Ernesto Valverde is likely to implement a 4-2-3-1 formation, utilizing the attacking capabilities of players such as:

• Iñaki Williams
• Nico Williams
• Oihan Sancet
• Gorka Guruzeta

Qarabağ’s Preparation

On the other hand, Qarabağ arrives in Spain with a full squad and a noteworthy track record, boasting six consecutive victories across all competitions. Under the leadership of head coach Gurban Gurbanov, who has been at the helm since 2008, the team employs a possession-based playing style.

• Key attackers:
  • Leandro Andrade
  • Abdellah Zoubir
  • Kady Borges
• Goalkeeper: Mateusz Kochalski (3 clean sheets this campaign)

Champions League Context

This year marks Athletic Club’s return to the Champions League since the 2014-15 season, while Qarabağ FK last reached the group stage in the 2017-18 season. From this phase, the top eight teams will advance to the round of 16, with those placed 9th to 24th entering playoff matches.

Fans can follow the match live on TNT Sports in the UK, Paramount+ in the U.S., and through online streaming on discovery+.