All to Play for as HJK Meet Neftci Baku in Europa League Qualifying Second Leg
HJK Helsinki vs Neftchi Baku - 12/08/2021
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Due to changes in the structure of European club competitions this season, qualifying for the Europa League started at the third qualifying stage and on the 12th of August we have a meeting between HJK and Neftçi Baku.
This is the second leg of the tie and will be played at the Bolt Arena in the Finnish capital. The winner of the tie will progress to the playoff stage and set up a tie with Turkish club, Fenerbahçe.
HJK come into the match having defeated KTP away from home in the Finland top-flight on the weekend. The winning goal was scored in the 23rd minute from the penalty spot and that result means HJK hold a commanding lead at the top of the Veikkausliiga and look well placed to win the title this season.
That result means HJK are on a run of 5 matches without defeat following the loss against Malmo in the Champions League qualifying rounds. There were 3 draws in those 5 games, including the first leg of this tie which ended 2-2 in Azerbaijan.
HJK found themselves 1-0 down after 59 minutes but came back strongly to score two goals in the space of 5 minutes to take the lead. However, Neftçi Baku scored the equalising goal with 10 minutes of the game remaining.
HJK are undefeated in their last 3 Europa League fixtures, all of which have ended in a draw.
Neftçi Baku started the season in the Champions League qualifying rounds but were eliminated by Olympiakos in the second round.
Neftçi Baku lost both legs of the tie 1-0 against the Greek club having previously defeated Dinamo Tbilisi in both legs of the first qualifying round.
The Champions League qualifiers and the first leg of this Europa League third qualifying round tie are the only games Neftçi Baku have played this season.
Their domestic league does not begin until the 15th of August so they have been relying on friendly matches to get them up to speed ahead of their European campaign.
Neftçi Baku have a poor recent record in the Europa League. They have won only one of their last 5 matches in the competition but have recorded 2 victories in their last 3 away Europa League qualifying fixtures.
Team news and HJK are likely to go with the same starting XI from the first leg. The only changes could see Riku Riski come in for David Browne in attack plus Matti Peltola could start on the left side of midfield.
Neftçi Baku could be without Kamran İbrahimov, who was forced off in the 18th minute of the first leg. Aqil Məmmədov could be his replacement in goal with Fahmin Muradbəyli and Mirabdulla Abbasov also hoping to be named in the starting XI for the away team.
Both sides are showing solid results recently, therefore Forebet predicts a high-scoring draw in this upcoming fixture from the 3rd qualifying round of Europa League.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UEL
234433
X
2 - 2
2.89
18°
3.75
1.80
3.75
4.20
1
-1
1
3 - 0(0 - 0)
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