Recap
I am fully convinced that KuPS will be eliminated from this tie. I watched both of their matches against Vardar and in my opinion, they were extremely fortunate to progress to the next round. Vardar were completely unprepared for the first leg, while the second match ultimately went to extra time, with KuPS securing qualification only after 120 minutes of football.
The Finnish side will now face a considerably stronger opponent in Sabah, a team with a squad packed with experienced foreign players from 14 different countries, including individuals who have previously played in some of Europe’s top five leagues.
The conditions in Baku will provide an additional challenge for KuPS. With temperatures expected to exceed 30°C, the Finnish side could struggle significantly against a technically stronger and more experienced Sabah team. I am fully confident that Sabah will take advantage of the home conditions and secure victory in the first leg.