Sabah Baku vs KuPS Preview
Sabah Baku haven’t been in the most convincing form lately and KuPS know how to get results on the road. A closely contested Champions League Qualifier is expected in Azerbaijan.
KuPS Unbeaten in 8
- Sabah Baku are winless in 3 of their last 5 games.
- KuPS are unbeaten in 8 consecutive away matches.
H2H
This will be the first-ever game between Sabah Baku and KuPS.
Sabah Baku Are a Patchy Side
Valdas Dambrauskas’ Sabah Baku lack momentum and have won four of their last nine fixtures.
The Azerbaijani side failed to win any of their three pre-season friendlies. They drew 1-1 with Craiova and Ferencvaros and lost 4-1 at Polissya Zhytomyr.
The Owls recovered with a 2-0 first-leg home win against The New Saints in the Champions League. Veljko Simic and Kaheem Parris scored in the last 30 minutes.
Sabah Baku sealed their place in the next qualifying round with a 2-1 second-leg win at The New Saints. The Owls faced 16 shots, but early goals from Joy-Lance Mickels and Rahman Dashdamirov secured the win.
KuPS Tough to Beat Away
Finnish side KuPS have lost just once in their previous 15 matches They are unbeaten away in that period, winning six and drawing twice.
Miika Nuutinen’s team won three Veikkausliiga games in a row, including two away victories, before entering the Champions League Qualifiers.
The Yellow-Blacks started strongly in Europe and beat Vardar 2-0 away, attempting six shots on target. KuPS lost 3-2 in the second leg at home and had 18 shots.
Nuutinen’s outfit returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-0 league triumph at SJK. Jaime Moreno Ciorciari and Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba scored in the first 31 minutes and KuPS dominated with 2.7 XG.
Predicted Starting Lineups & Team News
Sabah Baku (4-2-3-1): Stas Pokatilov; Akim Zedadka, Santos Junior, Rahman Dashdamirov, Tymoteusz Puchacz; Umarali Rakhmonaliyev, Ivan Lepinjica; Veljko Simic, Aleksey Isayev, Aaron Malouda; Joy-Lance Mickels
Winger Khayal Aliyev has a ruptured tendon and won’t feature against KuPS.
KuPS (4-3-3): Hemmo Riihimaki; Akseli Puukko, Taneli Hamalainen, Arttu Lotjonen, Saku Heiskanen; Niilo Kujasalo, Tommi Jyry, Saikou Touray; Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba, Jaime Moreno Ciorciari, Arttu Heinonen
KuPS have no injuries or suspensions.