FC Twente vs Qarabag – News and Probable Lineups

After a twelve-year gap since their last competitive encounter, FC Twente takes on Qarabag FK on Thursday, with both teams looking to achieve a positive outcome in the opening leg of the Conference League playoff round at FC Twente Stadion.

Both clubs have dropped into this third-tier European competition from the Europa League, giving them another opportunity for continental football this season.

Match overview

FC Twente is roughly a month into their current season and has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions within just four weeks of competitive action.

John van den Brom’s squad has faced disappointment in the Europa League, getting eliminated by Ferencvaros in the second qualifying round, but they bounced back with an emphatic 6-0 victory over DAC 1904 in the third qualifying round of the Conference League and have had a mixed start to their Eredivisie campaign.

Not known for a lack of excitement, De Tukkers have played to a thrilling 3-3 draw against DAC 1904 and followed it up with a 3-1 win against PEC Zwolle, getting back to winning ways after a 1-0 defeat in their opening weekend against Heerenveen.

Securing a victory against Zwolle marked the Reds’ first triumph in three outings, and Van den Brom’s group is aiming to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

This achievement last occurred in March-April when they secured three 2-1 victories over Fortuna Sittard, Ajax, and FC Volendam, a feat fans will be eager to see if it will inspire them to take something positive to Baku next week.

Gurban Gurbanov’s team will undoubtedly pose a challenge over both ties, considering their solid defensive record in Europe thus far.

Although competing in the third level of European football, the Azerbaijani side has conceded only one goal across six qualifying matches, which occurred against Dynamo Kyiv in the previous round; a 1-0 defeat that they reversed in Baku.

Qarabag was ousted from the Europa League despite not conceding in four preliminary matches against IF Vestri and CSKA Sofia, ultimately falling victim to not scoring against the latter in a penalty shoot-out loss.

Following a three-match European goal drought, Qarabag has regained confidence, finding the net five times across all competitions, securing victories against Dynamo (2-0) and Samaxi in league play, scoring three against the latter while embarking on their quest for a 13th league title on a high note.

Now, they aim to end a four-match winless streak against their playoff round adversary to carry a positive result into the next week’s rematch.

Team News

Stav Lemkin has been absent for Twente since their friendly against Genk earlier this month, and the reason for his absence is likely to keep him out of Thursday’s match.

Although Wout Weghorst scored two goals in his initial three appearances for the Tukkers, he has now gone four matches without finding the net as he heads into Thursday, and he will be looking to end this drought.

The Tukkers can still depend on the trio of forwards supporting the towering striker — Marko Pjaca, Daan Rots, and Sondre Orjasaeter — to deliver the goods should their top scorer struggle.

Their contributions will be crucial against Qarabag, who has achieved five clean sheets in six continental encounters in 2026-27, with Mateusz Kochalski present in goal for each of those matches.

Jaly Mouaddib has already netted two decisive goals in Europe this season, and a third would be most welcome for the 25-year-old Frenchman.

One player currently unavailable is Cebrail Makreckis, who remains suspended following his dismissal in the first leg of the prior qualifying round against Dynamo.

FC Twente probable starting XI:

Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Bruns, Propper, Adelgaard; Zerrouki, Weidmann; Pjaca, Rock, Orjasaeter; Weghorst

Qarabag FK probable starting XI:

Kochalski; Silva, Huseynov, Varkonyi, Langa; Bicalho, Jankovic; Mouaddib, Kady, Lobato; Gurbanli

While the Tukkers are keen to take the initiative in front of their home crowd, their ongoing defensive vulnerabilities may leave them susceptible against a well-organized Azerbaijani side.

Gurbanov’s team is adept at managing continental knockout ties, and their disciplined setup should frustrate the hosts, enabling them to return to Baku with a valuable draw.