Plan your ticket purchase for the football match between Qarabağ and CSKA Sofia in the Europa League qualifiers at Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku. The game is scheduled for 23 July 2026, so check the latest venue and access information before travelling
Qarabağ and CSKA Sofia open a tie decided over two matches
Qarabağ and CSKA Sofia play the first leg of the Europa League second qualifying round in Baku. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 local time, while the return leg will be played seven days later in Sofia. The winner of this pairing advances to the third qualifying round, where the better team from the Sheriff Tiraspol - Maccabi Tel Aviv tie awaits.
For both teams, this is the first serious test of the European summer. Qarabağ overcame the previous obstacle without conceding a goal, while CSKA Sofia had to survive a more open and considerably more nervous tie against Derry City. The home side enters the match better rested because its new domestic league season has not yet begun. Between European commitments, the visitors have already played a league match against Slavia Sofia.
Tickets for this match have been in demand among supporters, especially because qualification is decided in only two encounters and any advantage gained in Baku can strongly shape the return leg.
An important change for supporters planning to attend
Although some earlier announcements listed Azersun Arena, the current match information directs supporters to Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku. It is a considerably larger stadium, located in the Narimanov district, immediately next to Gənclik metro station. Its capacity is approximately 31,200.
That difference is not merely logistical. Tofiq Bahramov allows Qarabağ to play a European evening in front of a much larger crowd than at the club's Azersun Arena. Wider stands and an athletics track mean the crowd is not as close to the pitch as at the compact club stadium, but the larger number of home supporters can create strong pressure when Qarabağ raises the tempo.
For travellers, the most important point is not to enter the address of Azersun Arena, on the outskirts of the city, into their navigation system. The destination should be Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, or the area around Gənclik station.
Basic arrival information
- Stadium: Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
- Match kick-off: 20:00 local time
- Nearest metro station: Gənclik
- Stadium capacity: approximately 31,200
- Return leg: seven days later in Sofia
Qarabağ turned the first round into a demonstration of control
Qurban Qurbanov's team eliminated Icelandic side Vestri 6-0 on aggregate. Qarabağ won both matches 3-0, first in Baku and then away from home. Such an outcome gave the coach what is most sought after in July: qualification without drama, a distribution of minutes and two matches without conceding.
Zakaria Sawo, Abdellah Zoubir and Renaldo Cephas scored in the first match. In the return leg, the home side again reached three goals, and after two European matches Sawo has a tally of two goals. According to the statistics ahead of the CSKA match, he was also involved in three more goals through assists. That makes him the central figure in Qarabağ's attack, not only as a finisher but also as the focal point through which the wingers and midfield connect.
Zoubir remains a player whom the visitors must not leave isolated in a one-on-one situation. The experienced Frenchman looks for the ball on the left, moves inside and opens space for the full-back. Renaldo Cephas provides speed in transition, while Kady and Olexiy Kashchuk can take up the role between the lines. Marko Janković and Pedro Bicalho give Qarabağ the ability to control possession without completely abandoning vertical passes.
Qurban Qurbanov has managed the club for many years, and his team rarely looks tactically lost in qualifying ties. Qarabağ will probably try to keep the ball for long periods, stretch the visitors' block and attack the space behind the wide defenders. The key will not only be the number of shots, but how often the home side can force CSKA to defend while facing its own goal.
Qarabağ's latest confirmed results
- Vestri - Qarabağ 0-3
- Qarabağ - Vestri 3-0
- Sumgayit - Qarabağ 3-4
- Qarabağ - İmişli 3-0
- Gabala - Qarabağ 1-1
The sequence shows two important things. Qarabağ is capable of scoring several goals even when a match becomes open, but in the European round against Vestri it also demonstrated discipline without the ball. CSKA will therefore have to choose its moments for high pressing. Uncontrolled stepping out can open space for Zoubir, Cephas and Sawo.
CSKA Sofia arrives with a striker who has already defined the qualifiers
CSKA Sofia eliminated Derry City 5-3 on aggregate. It was 3-2 in Sofia and 2-1 for the Bulgarian team in the return leg. Ioannis Pittas scored three of CSKA's five goals in that tie. He scored twice in the first match and added another goal away from home. Bruno Jordão scored in Sofia, while the second goal in the return leg came through an own goal by the home side.
Pittas is therefore Qarabağ's first defensive assignment. He does not need many touches to finish a move and attacks the space between the centre-back and full-back well. If the home side pushes up its defensive line, passes from Stefano Sensi and Jordão towards Pittas could become CSKA's shortest route to a chance.
Hristo Yanev can also call on Leandro Godoy, a striker who scored 13 goals in the previous league season. James Eto'o provides range of movement and the ability to win second balls in midfield, while Sensi can slow down or accelerate an attack with a single pass. It is an important combination for a visiting team that will not want to spend the entire evening in a low block.
Three days before travelling to Baku, CSKA played out a 0-0 draw away to Slavia Sofia. That result can be interpreted in two ways. The team kept a clean sheet, but at the same time expended energy in a league match between two European rounds. Qarabağ had more time during that period to prepare for this specific opponent.
CSKA's last three competitive matches
- Slavia Sofia - CSKA Sofia 0-0
- Derry City - CSKA Sofia 1-2
- CSKA Sofia - Derry City 3-2
In Derry, goalkeeper Fedor Lapoukhov and midfielder Maks Ebong were absent because of entry documents for the United Kingdom, not because of confirmed injuries. That administrative issue should not automatically be carried over to the trip to Azerbaijan. Both are included on the registered list for the tie against Qarabağ, so the final decision on their roles will depend on the coach and the condition of the team immediately before the match.
Where the match could be decided
The first major area will be the middle of the pitch. Qarabağ wants to establish control through Janković, Bicalho and Kady, and then move the ball towards the wings. CSKA has enough technically strong midfielders not to have to clear every ball it wins immediately. If Sensi and Jordão find composure under pressure, the visitors can bypass the first wave of the home side's press and attack an unsettled defence.
The second area is the space behind Qarabağ's full-backs. The home side will seek width and a numerical advantage, which inevitably leaves room for counter-attacks. Pittas is particularly dangerous when making diagonal runs, while Godoy can occupy the centre-backs and open a channel for a teammate. Qarabağ will therefore need good balance behind the ball, especially when both wide defenders move high at the same time.
The third point is patience. This is the first match and neither team has to settle the tie in the opening half-hour. Qarabağ will have the support of the stands and probably more possession, but CSKA showed against Derry that it can respond after a change of tempo and breaks in play. The home pressure can be strong, but forcing risky passes through midfield is precisely the scenario that gives the visitors an opportunity for a quick transition.
Key players worth watching
- Zakaria Sawo - two goals in the first qualifying round and an important link in Qarabağ's attack
- Abdellah Zoubir - a creator on the left who can decide a situation with a dribble or the final pass
- Renaldo Cephas - speed that becomes particularly dangerous when CSKA opens up
- Ioannis Pittas - three goals in CSKA's two European matches
- Stefano Sensi - the technical focal point of the visitors' midfield and the player who can help them escape pressure
There is no competitive history offering a simple pattern
These teams do not have a relevant sequence of competitive head-to-head matches on which a firm prediction could be built. Some earlier summer encounters have less value because they were played with different squads and without stakes of this kind. What they have shown in July 2026 is far more important.
Qarabağ did not concede in two matches and scored six goals. CSKA scored five in two matches but conceded three. That does not mean the home side will automatically dominate. Vestri and Derry offered different profiles of resistance. Nevertheless, the figures clearly show that Qarabağ enters the match with a cleaner defensive picture, while CSKA has the most in-form individual goalscorer in this pairing.
What to expect in the stands
Qarabağ often turns European matches in Baku into events that attract supporters beyond its regular domestic audience. At Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, the loudest sections of the stands will try to raise the tempo from the first pressing action, although the athletics track means the sound and visual impression differ from those in compact football arenas.
CSKA Sofia has recognisable travelling support, but the organisation of the away section and any restrictions should be checked in the club's latest instructions. Following incidents during the previous trip to Derry, security checks and the separation of supporter groups could be stricter than at an ordinary match.
It is worth securing tickets in good time and checking in advance the section stated on the ticket. At a stadium with several entrances, approaching the wrong one can mean additional walking around the entire complex.
How to get there and what to plan before the match
The simplest way to arrive from central parts of Baku is by metro to Gənclik station. The exits from the station lead towards the stadium area and Ganjlik Mall. The Baku Metro operates from early morning until midnight, covering both the journey to the match and the return after the evening fixture.
Arriving by car brings more uncertainty. Traffic in the immediate vicinity of the stadium can slow down before kick-off, and publicly available information does not confirm a special parking arrangement for this match. Anyone who nevertheless arrives by car should expect to walk from a more distant parking area and should not rely on finding a free space next to the stadium itself.
The opening time of the gates has not been published in verified announcements. It is sensible to arrive before the largest wave of spectators, have the ticket ready and carry an identification document that may be requested during checks. Rules concerning bags, bottles and other items can change depending on the organisation of the match, so they should be checked on the day of the fixture.
- Use Gənclik station as the main point of orientation.
- Check the exact section before heading towards the entrance.
- Do not plan on parking immediately next to the stadium as the only option.
- Arrive earlier because of possible security checks and crowds.
- After the match, follow stewards' directions towards the metro or taxi zone.
Baku is a large city on the shore of the Caspian Sea, and the stadium is located north of the historic centre and waterfront area. Visitors staying in the centre can combine sightseeing with an easy metro journey to the match. For the return after the fixture, it is useful to have an alternative in case of larger crowds at the station, such as a prearranged taxi pick-up point farther away from the main exit.
On the pitch, Qarabağ will seek an advantage that allows it to control the return leg in Sofia. CSKA will try to keep the tie open and exploit Pittas's form. For a supporter in the stadium, that means a match in which the tempo can change suddenly: from long home attacks to quick visiting breaks into the space behind the defensive line.
Sources:
- Qarabağ FK - reports from both matches against Vestri, goalscorers, results and the schedule of the tie against CSKA Sofia
- CSKA Sofia - reports and line-ups from the matches against Derry City and information about the league draw with Slavia Sofia
- Idman.biz - confirmation of the kick-off time, stadium and Qarabağ's registered squad list for this tie
- Sports Mole - form overview, information about key players and team news ahead of the match
- Baku Metro - information about Gənclik station and metro operating hours
- The Stadium Guide - capacity and basic information about Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium