Rakow Czestochowa vs Qarabag Prediction, Tips & Match Preview

Rakow Czestochowa vs Qarabag
UEFA Champions League Qualification
Date: 26 July 2023, Wednesday
Kick-off at 19:15 UK / 20:15 CET
Venue: Miejski Stadion Pilkarski Rakow (Czestochowa).

Both Rakow and Qarabag have successfully jumped above their inaugural hurdles at the start of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign.

They will now come across each other in the first leg of the second qualifying round on Wednesday evening at Miejski Stadion Pilkarski Rakow.

The Polish outfit have won the national league for the first time in their history last year and they are making their Champions League debut this summer.

They have easily eliminated the likes of Flora 4-0 on aggregate in the opening round, winning the second leg 0-3 on the road last week.

David Szwarga’s men also got off to a flying start to their title-defense quest in Polish Ekstraklasa, beating Jagiellonia 3-0 at the weekend.

Szwarga can be especially satisfied with his team’s defensive displays because Rakow are yet to concede a goal in competitive matches this season, and this will be their fifth tie.

The positive defensive streak includes a goalless draw to Legia Warsaw in the Polish Super Cup final earlier this month.

Qarabag also eased past their respective first-round rivals, beating Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps 6-1 on aggregate. They stormed past the counterparts with a 4-0 win in the reverse leg played seven days ago in Azerbaijan.

We also have to mention Qarabag’s phenomenal run in Europe last year when they reached the Champions League playoffs, came third in their respective Europa League group, and then fell on penalties to Gent in the Conference League last 32 round.

Rakow Czestochowa vs Qarabag Head-to-head

• Rakow and Qarabag faced each other for the first time in January this year when the Polish outfit celebrated a 3-0 win in a midseason friendly.
• This will be their second head to head affair.

Rakow Czestochowa vs Qarabag Prediction

Rakow have won the Polish title mainly thanks to the rock-solid defense last season. They have not conceded a single goal in four competitive outings this season and we see the value in backing the hosts to keep a clean sheet here at the 2.25 odds.

Alternatively, we will go for the Under 2.5 goals FT bet at the 1.57 odds, expecting a tight and nervous match with plenty at stake for both rivals.

• Rakow Czestochowa to keep a clean sheet @ 2.25 (5/4)

• Under 2.5 goals FT @ 1.57 (4/7) odd.