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+.
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