Neftchi vs Besiktas Prediction: Will the Azerbaijani club cope with this challenge?

Neftchi beat a tough Željezničar from Bosnia, but in the next round of European Cup qualification the Baku club's opponent is even more serious - Turkish Besiktas. Will the Azerbaijani club cope with this challenge? Let's choose a few bets.

During the PARI Premier Cup preseason tournament, the Baku team was led by the famous former striker Adrian Mutu. Under the new coach, Neftchi lost to Spartak (0:2) and Fenerbahce (0:1) at the training camp in Russia but approached the matches with Željezničar fully prepared. In the first game, the Baku side lost 0:1 and 1:2 but equalized the score in the second half - 2:2. Forward Roman Hajiyev scored the most important goal.

In the return match, Neftchi confidently brought the two-round confrontation to victory, sending two unanswered goals into the gates of the Bosnians. Kenny Seif and Eddie Israfilov scored. Excellent result, which certainly compensated for the defeat in the first round of the new championship of Azerbaijan. After the return game with Željezničar, Neftchi lost to Kepaz Club - 0:1.

The Istanbulians have also played one round of qualification. The bronze medalist of the last championship of Turkey, without any problems, coped with Albanian Tirana - 3:1 on the home field with goals from Bulut, Muleki, and Kılınç; 2:0 away with goals from Amartey and Abubakar. The second half of the return game was played in the minority after the suspension of Arthur Masuaku.

Last season, Besiktas scored 78 goals in 36 games - more than two goals per game. Confirm the status of the attacking top team Istanbulians in the new season - five goals in two games to Albanian Tirana, seven in three friendly preseason matches. Neftchi, as shown by the preseason matches in Russia, and meetings with Željezničar, although the Bosnians failed in the return game. So the continuation of Besiktas' goal accomplishments can be expected. Of course, the Turkish team is the clear favorite and will surely take away from Baku an acceptable result before the return leg.