European train: 5 candidates for 3 places - ANALYSIS

The semi-final stage of the Azerbaijan Cup has come to an end.

Idman.biz reports that the fact that "Qarabag" and "Sabah" reached the final, and "Araz-Nakhchivan" and "Neftchi"'s cup dreams failed, also affected the Eurocup struggle to some extent.

But there are still 6 contenders for 4 places on the continental stage. Considering that "Qarabag" has already coped with this task, but the tournament it will participate in has not been clarified, there are five contenders for three places. The semi-final has not changed the residents of the European train.

Whose way will "Qarabag" open?
It has not been clarified which tournament "Qarabag", which solved the Eurocup qualification before everyone else, will participate in. But Gurban Gurbanov's students can already secure their place in the Champions League this week. It would be a miracle if the Aghdam team does not become the champion this season, only in that case the team can go to the Europa League by winning the cup. If "Qarabag" finishes the season without a title, it will play in the Conference League. But the last two options are not real. The most convincing probability is related to securing the 12th championship. After that, it will be clarified that "Qarabag", which will go to the Champions League, whether or not it wins the cup, will clarify who will go to the Europa League.

"Zira"'s "Golden Double" hope
There is no doubt that "Zira" will also be in continental tournaments. Although Rashad Sadigov's students have not yet secured this qualification, they can already formalize their Eurocup ticket this weekend. But the Baku club will not know which tournament it will go to until May 31. On that day, "Zira" will have to watch the final of the cup between "Qarabag" and "Sabah". Thanks to "Qarabag"'s "Golden Double", the settlement club will go to the Europa League, otherwise to the Conference League.

5 steps away from Europe
"Araz-Nakhchivan", which gave up its dream of the Europa League by losing in the semi-finals, is now fighting on one front, not two. Elmar Bakhshiyev's students must protect the 3rd place they are now in to go to the Conference League. Nakhchivan representative, who is 5 points ahead of its closest follower "Turan Tovuz", must protect this advantage in the last 5 rounds in order to reach Europe for the first time in its history. Even if the regional representative loses the 3rd place, it will keep its Conference League chance. But then "Araz-Nakhchivan" should also support "Qarabag" on May 31.

"Turan Tovuz" whose fate is not in his hands
In general, there will be many who will support the Aghdam club in the final. If "Zira" will expect a victory from "Qarabag" to get into the Europa League, the contender for the second place in the Conference League will also want "Sabah" to lose. If "Turan Tovuz" cannot beat "Araz-Nakhchivan" in the last 5 rounds, it will have to wish for a "Golden Double" to reach Europe as the owner of the 4th place. In short, the fate of "Turan Tovuz" is not in his hands. If they need to wait and take advantage of "Araz-Nakhchivan"'s stumbles in the championship, then they have to hope for "Sabah"'s defeat in the cup.

Revenge, title and Europe
All thoughts of "Sabah" are tied to the final. Even in the last games of the season before, Vasili Berezutski's team, which was only focused on the cup, will spend the last 5 rounds in the dream of the final. The fate of the Baku club, which will face "Qarabag" on May 31, is in its own hands. To go to the Europa League, the first title must be won. This will also be a revenge for the defeat in the cup, which resulted in the resignation of Berezutski's compatriot Murad Musayev. In fact, "Sabah" should fight for 4th place to insure itself. Because if it is possible to beat "Turan Tovuz", the result of the final will not affect the ticket to Europe and will give the Conference League opportunity in the worst case. Although it is not easy to eliminate the 9-point difference with the Tovuz club

Fairy tale or God should help "Neftchi"
"Neftchi"'s way to the continental cups, which had the last chance to reach Europe in the semi-finals, has become difficult. Although Samir Abasov's team said goodbye to the hope of the Conference League, the Baku team still has chances on paper. But this depends only on a miracle, even more than a miracle. Emin Mahmudov's words, who said in his interview a few days ago, "God should help us in the game against France", also apply to "Neftchi"'s Eurocup chances. "Agh-garalar" must pass both "Sabah" and "Turan Tovuz", which is 13 points behind, and rise to the 4th place, and also wish for "Qarabag"'s "Golden Double". This is more like a fairy tale than a miracle. "Neftchi"'s Eurocup chance may end in the XXXII round.

It should be noted that in the semi-finals, "Qarabag" eliminated "Araz-Nakhchivan" (0:1, 3:0) and "Sabah" "Neftchi" (2:1, 1:1) from the competition.

Vugar Khayrullayev
Idman.biz