Preview: Qarabag FK vs. Nantes - prediction, team news, lineups

Qarabag, meanwhile, were beaten by the same scoreline by Freiburg, so will hope home advantage can help them bounce back with a victory.

Match preview

Indeed, it is a long flight to Baku for any team flying from western Europe, with Qarabag always hoping to find themselves coming up against a side somewhat jet-lagged and fatigued.

Gurban Gurbanov has been around the block and seen it all having managed the club since 2008, having helped them become the first Azerbaijani side to qualify for the Champions League group stage in 2017 as well as winning eight of the last nine domestic titles.

Last season, Qarabag progressed into the knockout stages of European competition for the first time when they were knocked out of the Europa Conference League by Marseille, but they have never managed this in either of Europe's main two tournaments, which is something Gurbanov will be looking to correct this campaign.

Their 2-1 defeat away to Freiburg last week has made that job considerably tougher, but if they can bounce back with a win against Nantes on Thursday, it is game on once again.

Nantes, meanwhile, are competing in Europe for the first time since exiting the group stage in the Champions League in the 2001-02 campaign, having won Ligue 1 the previous season.

Their participation comes as a result of their shock victory in the Coupe de France last season, when they defeated Nice 1-0 in the final courtesy of Ludovic Blas's 47th-minute penalty.

Despite their long absence from European competition, hardly helped by dropping down to Ligue 2 for several seasons, La Maison Jaune do have historical pedigree in this regard, having reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 1995 as well as the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in the previous campaign.

Antoine Kombouare, who began his playing career with Nantes and took over as head coach in February 2021, will hope to be a part of a special new chapter in Nantes' story.

Having beaten Olympiacos 2-1 last week, a win in Azerbaijan on Thursday would put them in an incredibly strong position in terms of reaching the knockout stages.

Qarabag FK Europa League form:

Qarabag FK form (all competitions):

Nantes Europa League form:

Nantes form (all competitions):

Team News

Qarabag will remain without Kevin Medina on Thursday, with the defender still ruled out due to a leg injury.

Despite being marginally beaten by in-form Freiburg last week, Gurbanov would likely have taken plenty of positives from the defeat, and may name the same starting XI against Nantes.

Nantes, meanwhile, will travel without Samuel Moutoussamy and Charles Traore due to leg injuries.

Having started the season slowly in Ligue 1, Kombouare may shake things up with a few changes in order to avoid fatigue among his ranks.

As such, Mostafa Mohamed could replace Moses Simon, with former Manchester United defender Fabio Da Silva returning to the team having served a suspension at the weekend.

Qarabag FK possible starting lineup:

Mahammadaliyev; Vesovic, Mustafazada, Guseynov, Bayramov; Qarayev, Jankovic; Sheydayev, Kady, Zoubir; Kwabena

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lafont; Fabio, Casteletto, Girotto, Merlin; Sissoko, Chirivella; Bamba, Blas, Ganago; Mohamed

We say: Qarabag FK 1-1 Nantes

Nantes may be content to come away with Azerbaijan unscathed having already gained a win against Olympiacos last week.

Qarabag are tough to beat on home soil, but likewise can find it tough to break teams down at this level, so may not be too disappointed with a share of the spoils either.

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