FK Krasnodar have already secured their place in the last 32 of the Europa League but they will want to continue their good form in Azerbaijan on Thursday and should be backed to do so.
The Russian side have impressed in nine matches so far in this competition, they required two playoff ties to reach the group stage, and have only lost once since August. That reversal was a narrow defeat in Germany against high-flying Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and Krasnodar showed what are made of by getting revenge on Thomas Tuchel’s side last time out, winning 1-0 on home soil.
That result ensured both sides qualified with a game to spare from a weak section that also features PAOK and the Russian’s upcoming opponents and Qabala are certainly not to be feared.
Miles off the pace domestically behind fellow Europa League competitors Qarabag, Thursday’s hosts were winning for the first time in seven home games last week against lower league opposition in the Azerbaijani domestic cup and Krasnodar represent a significant step up in class from that.
Having scored just two goals in Group C, Qabala are likely to succumb if conceding first and they were whipped 7-1 by Dortmund across their two matches when the pair met.
That gives a good indicator of exactly the level Qabala are at and Krasnodar should be a shorter price with top spot the prize on offer should they land the maximum haul, thanks to holding the head-to-head edge over the Germans.
Krasnodar will take great heart from the fact their hosts have won less than half of their top flight fixtures this term and arrive in excellent form themselves having lost just once in 15 matches, a 3-2 defeat at Spartak Moscow.
A Russian side has never lost to an Azerbaijan outfit in european football and that statistic is unlikely to have changed at full-time.
4pts Back Krasnodar (vs. Qabala) @ 5/6 (Betway)