Getting to Know You: Qarabağ | OneFootball

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JANUARY 23: FCSB's David Raul Miculescu celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Qarabag FK and Fotbal Club FCSB at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium on January 23, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Aziz Karimov/Getty Images)

The final round of games is upon us in the league phase of the Europa League. José Luis Mendilibar has already secured knockout football for the Reds, but the question remains: will Olympiacos qualify for the Round of 16 with a top-eight finish, or will they take part in the playoff round? Azerbaijani side Qarabağ lie in wait, ready to help decide the fate of the Greeks.

Qarabağ FK is an Azerbaijani football club based in Ağdam, though they have played their home matches in Baku since the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict forced their relocation in 1993. Founded in 1951, Qarabağ has grown into one of the most successful clubs in Azerbaijan and a symbol of resilience for the nation. Their nickname, “The Horsemen,” is derived from the Karabakh horse, a breed native to the region.

Qarabağ’s rivalry with Neftçi PFK is the most prominent in Azerbaijani football. Matches between the two clubs, known as the “Baku Derby,” are fiercely contested, representing a clash between two of the country’s most successful and popular teams.

The club plays its home matches at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku. With a capacity of 31,200, the stadium is named after the famous Azerbaijani linesman who officiated in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final.

Honours and European Experience

Qarabağ FK is the most decorated football club in Azerbaijan. Domestically, they have won the Azerbaijan Premier League 11 times, most recently in the 2023-24 season. They have also lifted the Azerbaijan Cup eight times and the Azerbaijani Super Cup once.

On the European stage, Qarabağ has regularly represented Azerbaijan. They became the first Azerbaijani team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League and have made frequent appearances in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League group stages. In the 2023-24 Europa League, they advanced to the Round of 16 after beating Braga, before being knocked out by eventual finalists Bayer Leverkusen. This run cemented their status as a club capable of competing with Europe’s mid-tier teams. This season marks Qarabağ’s 21st year of participation in European competitions—a testament to their enduring quality and domestic dominance.

Their record against Greek opposition is impressive. Having faced Greek clubs four times, they remain unbeaten (P4 W3 D1 L0). Thrylos have a score to settle with Thursday’s visitors. The sides met in the group stage of the 2022-23 Europa League under the stewardship of Míchel, when the Reds suffered a humiliating 0-3 defeat at home and managed only a goalless draw a week later in Azerbaijan, restoring the smallest amount of pride.

In the Hot Seat

Qarabağ FK are led by their long-serving manager Gurban Gurbanov, who has been at the helm since 2008. Gurbanov is regarded as one of the finest tacticians in Azerbaijani football history, having transformed Qarabağ into a dominant domestic force and a respected competitor in Europe.

Under his leadership, the team has developed a reputation for disciplined, possession-based football. Gurbanov’s loyalty to the club and his ability to unearth and develop talent have been instrumental in Qarabağ’s sustained success. With the exception of their first league title (1993), all of the club’s league triumphs have come under Gurbanov’s reign.

Route in Europe & Season-to-Date

Qarabağ earned their place in this season’s UEFA Europa League by winning the Azerbaijani Premier League. They successfully navigated two Champions League qualifying rounds, defeating Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps 7-0 on aggregate, followed by an 8-3 aggregate victory over Ludogorets (Bulgaria). However, Dinamo Zagreb halted their progress in the playoff round, strolling to a 5-0 aggregate win and sending Qarabağ into the Europa League.

Qarabağ have endured a disappointing league phase and enter the final matchday with their fate already sealed. Regardless of the result in Piraeus, they will not feature in any knockout football this season. They have won only one game—a 2-1 victory at high-flying Bodø/Glimt—while suffering six defeats in their other matches.

On the domestic front, however, it has been a positive season. Qarabağ are in the quarter-finals of the national cup and currently sit top of the Premier League. After 20 rounds of games, they are on 50 points—eight points clear at the summit—having lost only twice and drawn the same number of games.

Players to Watch

Qarabağ do not have many household names in their squad, but they boast a wealth of experience.

Possibly their most well-known player is Yassine Benzia, familiar to Olympiacos fans following his short loan spell at the club under Pedro Martins. While Benzia’s stay at the port was unsuccessful, he has since carved out a solid career in France and Turkey.

The Horsemen’s biggest goal threat comes from Cape Verde international striker Leandro Andrade. Now in his fourth season with Qarabağ, he has seven goals in 20 league games and has amassed a total of 25 goals in all competitions during his time at the club.

Although Qarabağ have nothing to play for and their form this season suggests a home win, Thrylos cannot afford to rest on their laurels going into matchday eight. Mendilibar will ensure his men are well-drilled and disciplined to get the job done. Securing three points at home will be crucial, with results elsewhere determining Olympiacos’ continued route in Europe this season.