Preview: Kazakhstan vs. Azerbaijan – prediction, team news, lineups

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan get their UEFA Nations League campaigns underway with a Division C fixture on Friday afternoon.

Each nations endured disappointing seasons over the past version, Kazakhstan needing to come back by the relegation playoffs to stay on the third tier.

Match preview

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Having completed backside of their group over the past marketing campaign, Kazakhstan discovered themselves concerned in a two-legged playoff with Moldova to keep away from dropping into the underside tier of groups.

A nice comeback through the away first leg secured a 2-1 benefit forward of the reverse fixture, just for Moldova to prevail 1-0 within the second half of the tie to arrange a penalty shootout.

At one stage, Kazakhstan discovered themselves 3-1 down, however a miraculous turnaround noticed them win 5-4, a consequence which felt necessary within the context of their development as a group.

Nonetheless, the powers-that-be nonetheless made the choice to usher in a contemporary face within the dugout, Magomed Adiyev being handed the reins as lately as final month.

For the reason that resumption of worldwide soccer in September 2020, Kazakhstan have gained simply three of their 19 matches in all competitions.

Azerbaijan have additionally endured a bleak interval with simply two victories being recorded in 22 fixtures, the final of which got here nearly a yr to the day in Belarus.

Gianni De Biasi can be hoping for a similar consequence when the 2 nations meet once more subsequent week, however his preliminary focus can be on ending a 10-game winless streak.

Of their final Nations League marketing campaign, Azerbaijan completed simply two factors forward of bottom-placed Cyprus, a run of three goalless attracts in succession making certain that they averted relegation.

With objectives having additionally not been scored of their current defeats in opposition to Latvia and Malta, the onus can be on making enhancements in that space of the pitch throughout their upcoming matches.

Kazakhstan kind (all competitions):

Azerbaijan kind (all competitions):

Group Information

Kazahstan will make not less than one change to the group which final confronted Moldova with star man Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov not current within the squad.

Aybar Zhaksylykov seems more than likely to come back into the group in what could show to be the one alteration to the beginning lineup.

As for Azerbaijan, De Biasi should resolve whether or not to stay with the primary XI from the house defeat in opposition to Latvia on the finish of March.

Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead Renat Dadashov received the nod on that event however with the 23-year-old nonetheless on the lookout for his first worldwide purpose, Ramil Sheydayev could get the nod as an alternative.

Kazakhstan doable beginning lineup:
Shatskiy; Marochkin, Maliy, Alip; Bystrov, Vasiljev, Tagybergen, Kuat, Suyumbaev; Zhaksylykov, Aymbetov

Azerbaijan doable beginning lineup:
Agayev; Salahly, Haghverdi, Mustafazada; Medvedev, Mahmudov, Silvestre, Qarayev, Bayramov; Nazarov, Sheydayev

We are saying: Kazakhstan 1-1 Azerbaijan

With Slovakia the clear favourites to high the group, neither of those sides can afford defeat of their opening fixture. A draw could not show useful, particularly for Kazakhstan, however we really feel {that a} low-scoring stalemate is the more than likely final result on Friday.

For knowledge evaluation of the more than likely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.

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