On Thursday, starting with 17:00, the match Neftci Baku – Galatasaray will be played, within the 2nd preliminary round of the Europa League. The two teams have never met in European competitions, thus being a duel for the first time. If Galatasaray did not play in the first preliminary round, Neftci Baku eliminated the Macedonian team Shkupi, score 2-1 at home.
Neftci Baku returns in the 2nd preliminary round of the Europa League, after beating Shkupi (Macedonia) in the first match, a 2-1 victory in Azerbaijan. The group coached by Fizuli Mammadov returns to the European cups after a break of 6 years. In the 2013/2014 season, Neftci Baku was eliminated by the Albanians from Skenderbeu, following a goal scored in extra time, a duel counting for the 2nd preliminary round of the Champions League. The biggest performance of the Azerbaijani team is the qualification in the Europa League groups in the 2012/2013 season, when they were part of a group with Partizan Belgrade, Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan (4th place).
Galatasaray made its debut in the new season of the Turkish Super League with a victory against the team coached by Marius Sumudica, Gaziantep, score 3-1 at home. Fatih Terim’s students aim to qualify in the Europa League groups, where they have been only once (2009/2010 season), after the UEFA Cup. In the previous season, Galatasaray participated in the Champions League groups, finishing in last place, behind those of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Club Brugge.
Galatasaray is the best, most experienced team that can achieve a comfortable success in Baku.
-Neftci Baku has won 8 titles in Azerbaijan;
-Azeris once participated in Europa League groups (2012/2013);
-Galatasaray won 22 Turkish championship titles (a record);
-The “cimbom” team won the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup in 2000;
PREDICTION: Galatasaray to win @ 1,50
