OMM Newsroom
Veteran footballer Vidadi Rzayev said he sees no clear favorite in the Qarabag-Neftchi match in the eighth round of the Azerbaijani Premier League. He said the game could end in a draw.
Rzayev, a former midfielder who played for both clubs, said Qarabag had already dropped points, while Neftchi are among the leading teams and have the same number of points as Sabah. He rated the teams’ chances equally in the derby.
Derbies and the title race
Rzayev said the concept of a derby in Azerbaijani football has changed over time. He recalled that Kepez-Neftchi was once considered the main derby, before Khazar Lankaran joined the title race and the Neftchi-Qarabag rivalry came to the fore in later years. He said he hopes Sabah will also become part of high-stakes matches in the future, with more teams competing for the top spot.
The veteran footballer noted that the championship season is long, with 26 rounds and more than 70 points still available. He said it would be more appropriate to assess the title race after the winter break. Rzayev considers Sabah, who are currently competing on three fronts, the title favorite.
The Qarabag-Neftchi match will be played at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium on October 17 and will kick off at 19:00. Neftchi lead the standings with 16 points; Sabah and Qarabag, who have played one fewer match, also have 16 points and are second and third, respectively.
