Vestri vs Qarabag – UEFA Europa League 2026–27 First Qualifying Round

Qarabag made a dominant start to their UEFA Europa League campaign with a comfortable 3–0 away victory over Icelandic side Vestri on July 17, 2026. The Azerbaijani champions controlled the match from the first whistle at a rain-soaked Vestri Stadium, showcasing their European pedigree against a side making only their second appearance in continental competition.

Match Overview

From the opening minutes, Qarabag imposed their technical superiority. Vestri, who had fought through the Icelandic league to earn this tie, struggled to contain the visitors’ fluid passing and movement. The final scoreline of 3–0 accurately reflected the gulf in experience and quality between the two sides.

Key Moments

• 14th minute – Qarabag opened the scoring through a well-worked set piece. A short corner found midfielder Marko Janković, whose curling cross was headed home by towering centre-back Bahlul Mustafazade.
• 38th minute – The visitors doubled their lead when winger Abdellah Zoubir cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that nestled into the top corner.
• 67th minute – Qarabag sealed the victory with a third goal. Substitute forward Juninho raced onto a through ball and calmly slotted past the Vestri goalkeeper after a defensive slip.

Tactical Story

Vestri attempted to press high early on, but Qarabag’s experienced midfield trio of Richard Almeida, Qara Qarayev, and Toral Bayramov found space between the lines with ease. The Icelandic side’s best chance came in the 52nd minute when striker Hrannar Steingrímsson forced a sharp save from Qarabag goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev. However, Qarabag’s defensive organisation limited Vestri to just two shots on target across the 90 minutes.

Standout Players

• Bahlul Mustafazade (Qarabag) – Dominant in both boxes, scoring the opening goal and winning every aerial duel.
• Abdellah Zoubir (Qarabag) – A constant threat on the flank, his goal and assist made him the man of the match.

Season Impact

With the first-leg victory, Qarabag put one foot in the next qualifying round, where they will face the winner of the tie between Zrinjski Mostar and FC Tobol. Vestri now face an uphill battle to overturn the three-goal deficit in the return leg in Baku.