QARABAG HOSTS AJAX IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHOWDOWN

BAKU, Azerbaijan (Interstat) — A desperate AFC Ajax will look to salvage its European campaign on Wednesday when it visits a resilient Qarabag FK in a Champions League group stage match.

The storied Dutch club, a four-time European champion, finds itself in crisis, rooted to the bottom of its group with zero points and a minus-11 goal differential after four matches. Ajax’s most recent outing was a 2-0 home defeat to Benfica on Nov. 25, extending a brutal run of form. The Amsterdam side has been outscored 12-1 in its four Champions League matches this season, including losses to Inter Milan, Chelsea and Galatasaray.

In stark contrast, Qarabag has been a revelation. The Azerbaijani champion sits third in the group with four points, fueled by a stunning 3-2 victory over Benfica in September and a gritty 2-2 draw with Chelsea at home in early November. Their only group stage loss was a 2-0 defeat at Napoli on Nov. 25.

Qarabag’s European form extends back to a dominant qualifying run, where it defeated Ferencvaros and Shkendija by convincing margins. The club from Baku has shown a potent attack, scoring three or more goals in six of its last ten European fixtures.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Qarabag is projected to win decisively, with a predicted final score of 4-0. Such a result would severely damage Ajax’s faint hopes of advancing and bolster Qarabag’s unexpected push for a knockout stage berth.

The match kicks off at 9 p.m. local time at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium. For Ajax, the fixture is a last stand. For Qarabag, it’s a historic opportunity to take a major step toward the round of 16 at the expense of a European giant.

Up Next: Ajax travels to face Villarreal CF on Jan. 20. Qarabag will host an opponent to be determined on Jan. 21 before a trip to Liverpool FC on Jan. 28.