Breaking: Nerve‑tipped night in Baku as Qarabag and Ajax locked at 0-0
I am inside the Tofig Bahramov Stadium, and you can feel it. Qarabag are one result away from European history. Ajax are fighting to keep a season from falling apart. The final group match is underway, the score is 0-0, and 27,000 voices are pushing every duel and every second ball.
What is at stake right now
Qarabag entered the night on seven points. A positive result puts them in the knockout conversation and cements a landmark step for Azerbaijani club football. This is a club built on continuity, savvy recruitment, and fearless home form. They have turned Baku into a cauldron.
Ajax arrived with zero points from five. They are short on confidence and short on bodies. Wout Weghorst, Josip Sutalo, and Kenneth Taylor are out. The bench looks thin. The task is simple. Avoid a clean sweep of defeats and salvage pride for a club that expects far more.
The opening exchanges have matched the mood. Qarabag press in bursts, then drop to a compact shape and counter through Abdellah Zoubir and Leandro Andrade. Ajax try to slow the rhythm, keep the ball, and relieve pressure through the fullbacks. It is tight. It is tense. One moment can flip the table.
Live from Baku: Qarabag 0, Ajax 0. Match in progress. Kickoff was 21:45 local time.
The tactical picture on the grass
Gurban Gurbanov has stayed true to his template. Qarabag’s wide players are direct and brave. Zoubir drifts inside to overload midfield. Andrade runs at his man and looks for the early cross. Kevin Medina marshals the back line. When Qarabag break, they break with purpose.
Ajax have adjusted out of necessity. Without a target man like Weghorst, they lean on movement and quick combinations. The midfield two sit, the third pushes to link play. The back four is youthful and aggressive, yet it can be drawn out of shape by diagonal runs into the channels.
Set pieces feel huge. Qarabag have crowded the six-yard box and aimed deliveries to the back post. Ajax have tried to spring a high line, then catch Qarabag offside. So far, both keepers have handled the simple work. The stadium holds its breath on every corner.
Selection strain and the chessboard of changes
Ajax’s injury list has shaped this game. They lack height in both boxes. They also lack a reliable reference point up front. That puts stress on second balls and transitions. Expect Ajax to consider an extra midfielder after the hour if they need control, or a fresh winger if they chase a winner.
Qarabag’s bench offers energy. They can add a runner to press the Ajax back line or bring in a more defensively minded option to protect a lead if it comes. Gurbanov will time that first change with care. The crowd will roar at the first sign of fatigue from the visitors.
- What to watch next:
- Qarabag’s switches of play into Andrade’s lane
- Ajax’s fullbacks under pressure on the turn
- Dead balls, both ends, every delivery counts
- The first substitution window around the 60th minute
Qarabag can tilt the field by lowering the tempo, then striking off turnovers near halfway. Patience, then punch.
What this night means
For Qarabag, this is bigger than one match. A step into the knockouts boosts the club, the league, and the belief of a football nation. This stadium remembers the battles that built that identity. It is loud, proud, and unforgiving for visitors.
For Ajax, this is a test of resilience. Zero points is not just a statistic. It is a scar. A result tonight does not erase the campaign, but it gives a weary squad something to hold on to through winter. It also buys time for injured leaders to return and for a young core to harden.
If a goal arrives, it will be seismic. Qarabag know that one clean strike can lift them to the next stage. Ajax know that one mistake could define a season. The margins are razor thin. The energy here is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current score?
A: It is 0-0. The match is in progress in Baku.
Q: What do Qarabag need to advance?
A: A positive result keeps them in the qualifying picture, and a win likely seals the deal.
Q: Why is Ajax shorthanded?
A: Key injuries have hit the squad. Wout Weghorst, Josip Sutalo, and Kenneth Taylor are out.
Q: Who has impressed so far?
A: Zoubir’s movement has stretched Ajax. Medina has kept Qarabag organized. Ajax’s young defenders have battled.
Q: How is the atmosphere?
A: Electric. More than 27,000 fans are driving every challenge and set piece.
The next 45 minutes can define two stories. Qarabag are one surge away from a statement. Ajax are one stand away from relief. I will keep you locked to every twist as this decisive night in Baku unfolds.
