2024-05-03 10:02:23
There are only 4 rounds left before the end of the Azerbaijan Premier League.
As reported by İdman.biz, “Garabagh”, which is far ahead of other teams, has long finished the championship fight, and now there is a merciless fight for silver and bronze awards.
“Are we on the subway or on the bus?”
Below the champions, the top half of the Premier League is incredibly tight. This can only be compared to traffic jams in public transport during rush hours. Four Azerbaijani clubs found themselves in a situation faced by people rushing to work on the subway or bus. They are also in a hurry to get the reward and to Europe. The fact that “Sumgayit” and “Neftchi” have 50 points each, and “Zira” and “Sabah” have 49 points each, indicates that there are 4 teams with a difference of one point. Such density can only be found at the beginning of championships after 1-2 or 3-4 rounds. On the eve of the finish, the teams occupying 4 consecutive places in the standings are only 1 point away from each other, which is a rare event not only for Azerbaijan, but also for world football.
“Sumgayit” is waiting for outsiders
If you look at the upcoming matches of Sumgayit, which is currently in second place, Samir Abasov’s charges can be said to be quite lucky. The representative of the “City of Youth” will meet the teams from the last two places in two matches out of four. In addition to the matches against Gabala, which is officially the last, and Kapaz, which retained its place in the elite, the Sabail test also gives hope to the Sumgait residents. The Baku club’s hopes for European competition are fading like a candle and may end even before the trip to Sumgayit. Moreover, Abasov’s team, which defeated Qarabag at home, will host the “sailors” in front of their home fans. The only difficult duel will be a life-and-death battle with Sabah.
XXXIII. “Kyapaz” – “Sumgait”
XXXIV. “Sumgait” – “Sabail”
XXXV. “Sabakh” – “Sumgait”
XXXVI. “Sumgait” – “Gabala”
From champion to vice-champion
Although Neftchi is in third place, the calendar of recent matches does not bode well. An away duel with both the old and new champions “Qarabag” could throw the “black and whites” back several steps. Moreover, the four-match finish, which will begin with a meeting with the champion, will end with a meeting with the last vice-champion. Sabah has not been considered an easy opponent for Neftchi lately. However, in the middle of these two difficult tests, Miodrag Bozovic’s team will have a home match with Kapaz and an away match with Sabail. But the profit in these meetings, where 6 points are visible, may not be enough not only for silver, but also for bronze.
XXXIII. “Qarabag” – “Neftchi”
XXXIV. “Neftchi” – “Kyapaz”
XXXV. “Sabail” – “Neftchi”
XXXVI. “Neftchi” – “Sabah”
Head-to-head combat with roads and opponents
Since Zira has no games left with Sumgayit and Neftchi in front, it has to wait for them to slip up in order to get a place in the top three. Of course, Rashad Sadikhov’s team must score as many points as possible. But one of the competitors is the champion “Qarabag”. Although the fact that the Agdam club will lose to a representative of the village for the second time this season seems unrealistic, Baku residents have no other choice. The eponymous representative of Zira, who will end the season with a home match against Sabail, will have two trips to the west of the country. Although Turan Tovuz and Kapaz are opponents that can be beaten, away trips can affect the overall result of the team.
XXXIII. “Turan Tovuz” – “Zira”
XXXIV. “Zira” – “Karabakh”
HHHV. “Kyapaz” – “Zira”
XXXVI. “Zira” – “Sabail”
Dream of an amazing finish
Sabah’s finish will be completely different. The Baku residents will first have to meet with Araz-Nakhchivan and Gabala, and the loss of points by Krunoslav Rendulic’s team could cost them very dearly. The last two rounds could send Sabah into the European competition. Consecutive fights with two rivals in the prize and European Cup competition will clarify all the issues.
XXXIII. “Araz-Nakhchivan” – “Sabah”
XXXIV. “Gabala” – “Sabah”
XXXV. “Sabakh” – “Sumgait”
XXXVI. “Neftchi” – “Sabah”
In search of miracles
Two more teams still have a chance to be among the winners and play in European competition. It is unlikely that Turan Tovuz and Sabail, who have 42 points each, will overcome the large difference in points. The reason to think so is the fact that they are 8 points behind 2-3 places and 7 points behind 4-5 places. It might be possible to reduce the gap from one team 4 rounds before the finish. But you shouldn’t hope for successive losses of 3-4 points by your opponents.
Please note that the season will end on May 26.
Vugar Khairullaev
İdman.biz