Athletic Club host Qarabağ FK on Wednesday at San Mamés, aiming to earn their first points in the new Champions League league phase as the Azerbaijani side look to extend their perfect start.
Athletic Club and Qarabağ FK will meet for the first time in UEFA competition on Wednesday in Bilbao, with contrasting form setting the tone for their Champions League league phase fixture.
The Spanish side sit 35th in the 36-team table with no points after defeats to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund. Qarabağ, by contrast, have stunned Group A by winning both of their opening matches — 3-2 away to Benfica and 2-0 at home against Copenhagen — and are currently 10th.
The match kicks off at 16:45 UTC (18:45 CET) under the officiating of Croatian referee Igor Pajac.
Athletic are without suspended centre-back Yeray Álvarez, while Beñat Prados and Unai Egiluz remain sidelined with long-term injuries. Aymeric Laporte is doubtful with an ankle problem. Coach Ernesto Valverde is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 system, leaning on attacking threats from Iñaki and Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta.
Qarabağ travel to Spain with a full squad and buoyed by six consecutive victories in all competitions. Head coach Gurban Gurbanov has led the side since 2008 and favours a possession-based approach. Wingers Leandro Andrade and Abdellah Zoubir, along with playmaker Kady Borges, form the attacking core, while Polish goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski has kept three clean sheets so far in the campaign.
This is Athletic’s first Champions League campaign since 2014–15, while Qarabağ last reached the group stage in 2017–18. The top eight teams from this season’s league phase will qualify directly for the round of 16, with clubs finishing 9th to 24th entering playoff ties.
Wednesday’s match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK, Paramount+ in the U.S., and streamed online via discovery+.
As Kazakhstan becomes the latest nation to join the Abraham Accords on Friday, here's all you need to know about the agreement and why it matters....
Bolivian President-elect Rodrigo Paz was sworn in as the country's new President on Saturday ending almost 20 years of one-party rule....
A tornado accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain struck the southern Brazilian state of Parana, killing six people, the state government said on S...
Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan broke down, although a ceasefire continues between the South Asian neighbours, a Taliban spokesperson sai...
UPS and FedEx have grounded their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes after a deadly crash at UPS's Worldport hub in Louisville, Kentucky, ...
As Kazakhstan becomes the latest nation to join the Abraham Accords on Friday, here's all you need to know about the agreement and why it matters.
Bolivian President-elect Rodrigo Paz was sworn in as the country's new President on Saturday ending almost 20 years of one-party rule.
A tornado accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain struck the southern Brazilian state of Parana, killing six people, the state government said on Saturday.
Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan broke down, although a ceasefire continues between the South Asian neighbours, a Taliban spokesperson said on Saturday.
Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga lead the 2026 Grammy nominations, while K-Pop enters the Song of the Year category for the first time in the award’s history.
Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its forces despite a year-old ceasefire, as Lebanon and the United Nations warned of renewed border tensions.
U.S. Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from launching military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, despite growing concern over recent U.S. strikes in the southern Caribbean.
Despite promises of recovery from the new government, Germany’s economy continues to stagnate, with no signs of renewed momentum. According to the latest report from the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), the country still lacks the drive needed for a genuine economic rebound.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk won shareholder approval on Thursday for the largest corporate pay package in history as investors endorsed his vision of morphing the electric vehicle (EV) maker into an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics juggernaut.
As Kazakhstan becomes the latest nation to join the Abraham Accords on Friday, here's all you need to know about the agreement and why it matters.
Bolivian President-elect Rodrigo Paz was sworn in as the country's new President on Saturday ending almost 20 years of one-party rule.
A tornado accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain struck the southern Brazilian state of Parana, killing six people, the state government said on Saturday.
Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan broke down, although a ceasefire continues between the South Asian neighbours, a Taliban spokesperson said on Saturday.
UPS and FedEx have grounded their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes after a deadly crash at UPS's Worldport hub in Louisville, Kentucky, which killed 14 people, including three pilots. The incident is under investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment