2024-03-09 13:24:50
The game between Qarabag and Bayer in Baku is not at the level of the Europa League. This is the Champions League level. It’s no joke – the Germans have not lost for the 35th match in a row in all tournaments. And this is taking into account the meeting, albeit with Bayern, which is in decline. Both Qarabag and Bayer are leaders in their championships. The Agdam team has a fantastic lead over second place – 23 points. Bayer are ten points above Bayern – this also happens very rarely in German football.
As for the game itself, the spectators who filled the Tofik Bahramov Republican Stadium were very pleased. Their team created a sensation, not losing and practically not losing anything to today’s giants of European football. Yes, the sensation could have been greater if we had managed to win, especially since the Aghdam team was leading 2:0 after the first half. But it didn’t work out. Of course, let’s not forget the fact that in the second half a stronger line-up played, close to the main one – Frimpong and Wirtz came out. The latter, by the way, may soon move to one of the top clubs like Real Madrid. And head coach Xabi Alonso is also being wooed to the Royal Club. In general, have we roughly understood who opposed our “Karabakh”?
The level of games at this stage is prohibitive. A common mistake, a common shotgun – and immediately a severe punishment. The 20-year-old new European prodigy Florian Wirtz, who everyone has been talking about for a year now, does not forgive such mistakes. A mocking hook over the goalkeeper and voila – a one-on-one solution has been realized. And before that there was a sparkling first half performed by Karabakh. Lots of moments. Lots of interesting game. The stadium was buzzing throughout the match and for the first time it really exploded in the 26th minute, when Olavio Juninho scratched the ball in the center of the field from Bayer captain (!) Jonathan Ta and raced down the left flank, putting Benzia’s ball in at the end. The Algerian worked the ball with his right hand, and with his right hand he heartily hit the ball into the near corner. An explosion of emotions in the stadium. And then there was the 45+2nd minute, the end of the first half, when the punctual Germans were already resting their thoughts in the locker room. Bayer tried to create something of a tiki-taka on the left flank, but Patrick Andrade didn’t like it. The Cape Verdian footballer took the ball and with one pass left Bayer’s entire defense out of action. Olavio Juninho this time rushed like a meteor along the right flank, moved to the center, rolled the ball over the prone keeper and finished it into the goal. The stadium celebrated and exploded with emotion again. The cameras showed the audience, and then Gurban Gurbanov. The master of domestic coaching power, apparently, foresaw that the Germans would not like this situation and would release stronger players than those whom his club practically smeared across the field in the first half.
And so it happened. I mentioned the first goal missed above. It was scored in the 70th minute by Wirtz, who came on in the 58th. And the score was equalized at 90+2 by Patrick Schick, who appeared on the field in the 80th. Two substitutions decided the outcome of the match. And there was also a moment in the 83rd minute when the fleet-footed Olavio again ran, ran, ran, and in the end he hit the goalkeeper and pulled a muscle. By the way, he again left the Bayer captain behind him. We hope that the Brazilian’s injury is not serious, because there is a return battle ahead. And this moment also showed a lot – how much Qarabag wanted to win and that all the players gave 200 percent and played until the end. And yet there was not enough strength – Andrich’s cross from the right flank at the end and Patrick Schick’s nod spoiled the whole raspberry. By the way, this is not the first goal scored in Baku for the Czech player. Let us remind you that in our capital at the Olympic Stadium on July 3, 2021, the quarterfinal match of EURO 2020 Czech Republic-Denmark took place. Then the Danes won 2:1, and it was Schick who scored the only goal. Then this goal didn’t help matters much, but now…
What else did the game between Qarabag and Bayer show? What can we play through I can’t. Against all odds. What to expect in a response in a week? Everything, but not an easy walk. The opponent is the same, and he will try to please his audience, as Qarabag did at night. This means that he will field a composition close to the main one. After the draw, it was clear that it would not be easy. Yes, and before the draw too. There are no easy opponents at these stages. But “Karabakh” does not like easy ways…
Aslan Mammadli
İdman.biz