Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Arsenal
Match Time & Date:
13/12/2018
03:00 PM
Prediction: 1-0
Qarabag
As expected, Arsenal qualified for the Europa League knockout stages without any difficulties. The Gunners have already clinched top position in the standings and there is every chance coach Unai Emery is going to rest key players in Thursday’s football match against Qarabag. Arsenal reserves, though, did well to beat Vorskla 3-0 on the road in their last group game and it is no surprise the Premier League side are seen as hot favourites to beat Qarabag. The Azeri side, on the other hand, have nothing to play for in the Emirates Stadium clash and seeing that they experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 3-0 loss to Arsenal earlier in the process, we predict that the visitors are going to return home empty-handed from the trip to London. England rising star Smith Rowe produced a fine display in the 3-0 win over Vorskla, meaning that the opposition defenders should have him at bay.
Highlighted Player (Alexandre Lacazette):
Alexandre Lacazette is a hometown boy of Lyon, a powerful striker who went through the youth ranks of the French side to become one of the most important players for Les Gones. The 25-year-old forward was also a member of all France national team selections becoming a European champion at the age of 19 by scoring the winner in the final against Spain.
This goal gave him a reputation of a big game player, one he went on to uphold on various occasions at his club. Lacazette is a hard working forward an accomplished finisher of the ball able to score from different positions. The most prolific striker in his side and among the top ones in the Ligue 1, Alexandre Lacazette scored more than 20 league goals last two seasons on a trot.
Constantly linked with a move away from Lyon, Alexandre Lacazette refuses to speak about anything other than his football and is leaving all the talk to the football pitch.
Highlighted Team (Qarabag):
Over the years Qarabag have established themselves as one of the best teams in Azerbaijan. The club was founded in 1951 and they were playing under the name of Mehsul back then. Qarabag won their first trophy in the national championship in 1993, beating Khazar Sumgayit in the title game.
In the 2015/2016 season they won their fourth domestic trophy, with the team finishing the season 22 points clear of second-placed Zira. Qarabag participated in the 2016/2017 Champions League qualifiers, but they were more than unfortunate to suffer a loss to Viktoria Plzen in the two-legged tie. The Azerbaijan outfit were beaten by the Czechs on away goal rule and, as a result, they made it to the Europa League playoffs.
Thanks to a win over Goteborg in the double-header Qarabag made it to the knockout stages of the competition. The Horsemen play their home games at Azersun Arena and their home colours are black. Qarabag play their away games in white kits.
Freiburg
Bayern Munich
Benfica
Sporting
