Preview: Shkendija vs Qarabag FK - prediction, team news, lineups

Shkendija will aim to make home advantage count when they welcome Qarabag to Tose Proeski Arena on Tuesday for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie.

Both sides recorded home-and-away victories in the previous round, with the Ballists seeing off FCSB 3-1 on aggregate, while the Azerbaijan giants dispatched Shelbourne 4-0 across both legs.

---

Match preview

Shkendija’s run in this season’s qualifiers has been nothing short of eye-catching, as they step into the third round for only the second time in their history.

Their opening tie against Welsh outfit TNS appeared finely poised on paper, but Jeton Bekjiri’s men held their nerve through a gruelling contest that extended into extra time in the second leg.

The triumph over FCSB, however, carried even greater weight, considering it came against a club with previous group stage pedigree, and while a narrow 1-0 win in Tetovo laid the platform, Shkendija’s gritty display in Bucharest and eventual progression made their achievement all the more striking.

Bekjiri’s men saw their slender advantage wiped out when Juri Cisotti struck for the Romanians in the 28th minute at the National Arena, but Liridon Latifi replied almost immediately before substitute Vane Krstevski netted late on to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory for the North Macedonians.   

The Ballists will once again enter as underdogs for Tuesday’s clash, but confidence will be flowing through their ranks, with the win in Bucharest marking a third consecutive triumph in all competitions and extending the unbeaten streak to seven matches (including friendlies).

While they have emerged victorious in their last two competitive home games, Shkendija will be wary of history repeating itself, as the only time they reached this stage back in the 2011-12 season, Ballistet were soundly beaten 3-0 by Salzburg in Tetovo before bowing out after another defeat in Austria.

Qarabag, in contrast, are well-versed at this level, with this being their 11th Champions League qualifying campaign, and the Azeri are aiming for a second-ever appearance in the tournament proper following their breakthrough in 2017-18.

Having secured a place in the second qualifying round by winning the 2024-25 Azerbaijan Premier League, the Horsemen hit the ground running with a dominant victory in Dublin before completing the job with a measured performance on home soil.

Gurban Gurbanov’s men have now taken three wins from their last four competitive outings away from home, including that 3-0 dismantling of Shelbourne, so the Azeri will look to impose themselves early on once again.  

It is worth recalling that Qarabag cleared this hurdle last term by beating Ludogorets 8-4 on aggregate, even after losing the first leg away from home, although their journey ended one step short of the group stage following back-to-back defeats to Dinamo Zagreb — a bitter pill they will be determined to avoid this time around.
 

Shkendia Champions League form:

Shkendija form (all competitions):

Qarabag FK Champions League form:

Qarabag FK form (all competitions):

---

Team News

Shkendija are expected to welcome back Albanian midfielder Kamer Qaka, who missed the trip to Bucharest after being sent off in the first leg of the previous round.

It remains to be seen whether Qaka walks straight back into the lineup or if Adamu Alhassan will continue alongside Reshat Ramadani in a double pivot as seen in the last outing.

Meanwhile, head coach Bekjiri faces a welcome dilemma on the left attacking flank, with Latifi and Krstevski both staking strong claims to start following their crucial contributions in the previous tie.

Should both be named in the XI, Fabrice Tamba may be the one to make way on the opposite side, while experienced striker Besart Ibraimi is set to spearhead the attack once more.

As for Qarabag, having carried a three-goal cushion into last weekend’s second leg, Gurbanov opted for a slightly rotated side with around three changes from the previous lineup.

However, first-choice goalkeeper Fabijan Buntic is expected to return between the sticks, while Toral Bayramov should reclaim his place at left back.

It remains to be seen whether Dani Bolt will be fit to feature at right back after missing the last match, meaning Matheus Silva could retain his place if required.

Up front, the attacking trident is likely to see Leandro Andrade and Abdellah Zoubir operate on either side of Nariman Akhundzade, who is tipped to lead the line on Tuesday.
 

Qarabag FK possible starting lineup:

Gaye; Trumci, Cake, Fetai, Webster; Alhassan, Ramdani; Tamba, Krasniqi, Krstevski; Ibraimi

Shkendija possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Bayramov, Medina, Mustafazada, Silva; Bicalho, Addai, Borges; Andrade, Akhundzade, Zoubir

---

We say: Shkendija 1-1 Qarabag FK 

 

Qarabag’s superior European pedigree makes them favourites on paper, but Shkendija have already shown that they are a side capable of upsetting the odds, so the hosts will certainly fancy their chances of giving a strong account of themselves once again.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

---

---