Zira get ready to welcome Neftçi for something different than the ordinary league football: The Azerbaidjan Cup Quarter-finals leg 1 of 2.
There have been limited time to rest for the home side, as they performed in a Premier League fixture only four days back. This match was also played here at Zirə qəsəbə stadionu. With two consecutive home games the intense schedule is somewhat softened. Still, Neftçi have had more rest.
Zira form and stats
Last season, Zira's Azerbaidjan Cup journey ended in the final.Zira have collected 13 points from their Premier League home games so far after 4-1-3.
Zira's previous game was also played at home, ending 2-1 versus Turan. The home side are looking to build on that result.
Preceding that game was the away draw at Qarabağ that finished 0-0.Zira have conceded 15 from these games.
Neftçi form and stats
Neftçi's mission in Azerbaidjan Cup last season failed in the semi-finals against Zira.Neftçi's travelling support has been rewarded for their time and money so far this season, having witnessed Neftçi collect 16 points from their 8 away matches in the Premier League. 5 victories and 1 draw have created these points (and only 2 defeats).
This fixture can not go any worse than the last one, the home defeat versus Qarabağ with 0-4 on the scoreboard. As you can see from the result above, the defeat against Qarabağ was particularly ugly (0-4). The humiliation is still top of mind.
Before that, Neftçi secured a home win against Sebail with the score 3-1.Neftçi has displayed an ability to score goals in away matches in the league this season, 14 goals from 8 games.
Head 2 Head
Zira-Neftçi H2H statistics last ten meetings regardless of arena: Zira two wins, Neftçi five wins, three draws. five of these ten matches had three or more goals (over 2,5).
Top Goalscorers
  E. Mahmudov 9 goals |   S. Taşqın 4 goals | R. Sadikhov 4 goals |
Zira missing players
Neftçi missing players
| Zira | Neftçi | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 15 | 25 | ||
| 10 | 5 | Won | W | 5 | 12 | ||
| 6 | 2 | Drew | D | 2 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 5 | Lost | L | 8 | 10 | ||
| 23 | 9 | Scored | S | 15 | 37 | ||
| 31 | 21 | Conceded | C | 19 | 31 | ||
| 80% | 83% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 93% | 92% | ||
| 60% | 58% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 76% | ||
| 48% | 58% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 40% | 56% | ||
| 12% | 17% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 20% | 28% | ||
| 4% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 7% | 12% | ||
| 40% | 33% | BTTS | BTTS | 33% | 40% | ||
| 40% | 42% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 36% | ||
| 40% | 42% | Failed to Score | F T | 40% | 32% | ||
| 3.9 | 4.5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 3 | 3.5 | ||
| 4.5 | 3.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.2 | 4.9 | ||
| 1.3 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.5 | 2.1 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | ||
| 6.4 | 7.5 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 8.2 | 10.3 | ||
| 3 | 3.6 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.6 | 4.4 | ||
| 30% | 19% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 31% | 38% | ||
| 9.9 | 9.8 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 13.9 | 12.1 | ||
| 3.9 | 4.9 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 5.1 | 4.8 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Qarabağ | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 36 | 44 |
| 2 | Sabah | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 21 | 39 |
| 3 | Neftçi | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 32 |
| 4 | Zira | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | -4 | 26 |
| 5 | Qabala | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 24 |
| 6 | Turan | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -10 | 16 |
| 7 | Kesl FK | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | -11 | 12 |
| 8 | Sebail | 16 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 15 | -12 | 10 |
| 9 | Kapaz | 16 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 31 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 21 | -19 | 10 |
| 10 | Sumqayt | 16 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 16 | -16 | 9 |
