BAKU, August 4, 2025 — The draw for the UEFA Champions League play-off round will take place today in Nyon, Switzerland, starting at 2:00 PM Baku time.
Azerbaijani champions Qarabağ FK are preparing for a crucial third qualifying round tie against North Macedonia’s Shkendija, with the first leg scheduled for August 5 in Skopje and the return leg in Baku on August 12. Should Qarabağ advance, potential opponents in the play-offs include Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, Scotland’s Celtic, or the winners of Malmö vs. Copenhagen, Lech vs. Crvena Zvezda, and Ludogorets vs. Ferencváros.
However, if Qarabağ falls to Shkendija, the team will drop into the UEFA Europa League play-off round, with the draw taking place at 3:00 PM Baku time. In that scenario, Qarabağ would be unseeded and could face opponents such as Young Boys (Switzerland), the winner of Ħamrun Spartans (Malta) vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel), or the losers of Malmö vs. Copenhagen and Ludogorets vs. Ferencváros. These Europa League play-off matches are set for August 21 and 28.
Transfer Update: André Clóvis Nearing Qarabağ Move
Meanwhile, Qarabağ is reportedly close to finalizing the signing of Brazilian forward André Clóvis. According to Oxu.az, negotiations with the player, who is under contract with Portuguese club Académico de Viseu until June 2028, have reached an advanced stage. If the transfer is completed in time, Clóvis could be registered for the next round of UEFA competition.
Clóvis, 27, has previously played for Internacional, Leixões, and Estoril. Qarabağ head coach Gurban Gurbanov is said to be personally keen on bringing the striker into the squad.
Injury Report Ahead of Shkendija Clash
Club media and marketing head Anar Hajiyev confirmed that midfielder Marko Janković has returned to training after injury and is available for the match against Shkendija. However, Aleksey Isaev and Dani Bolt remain sidelined and will miss the first leg.
Odds Favor Qarabağ
According to Football Meets Data, Qarabağ are strong favorites heading into the tie with an 85% chance of progressing to the next round. Shkendija’s chances are estimated at just 15%.
The first leg kicks off at 10:00 PM Baku time on August 5.
