2017–18 Azerbaijan Premier League

The 2017–18 Azerbaijan Premier League was the 26th season of the Azerbaijan Premier League. The season began on 11 August 2017 and ended on 19 May 2018.

Azerbaijan Premier League
Season2017–18
Dates11 August 2017 – 19 May 2018
ChampionsQarabağ
RelegatedKapaz
Champions LeagueQarabağ
Europa LeagueGabala
Neftçi Baku
Keşla
Matches played112
Goals scored255 (2.28 per match)
Top goalscorerBagaliy Dabo
(13 goals)
Biggest home winQarabağ 4–1 Sumgayit
(22 September 2017)
Biggest away winKapaz 1–6 Gabala
(25 November 2017)
Highest scoringKapaz 1–6 Gabala
(25 November 2017)
Highest attendance13,300
Kapaz 0–2 Qarabağ
(5 November 2017)[1]
All statistics correct as of 21 May 2018.

Although unconfirmed by UEFA, it was expected that the winners of the league this season would earn a spot in the first qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, and the second and third placed clubs would earn a place in the first qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.[2]

Qarabağ were the defending champions.[3]

Teams edit

Shuvalan was relegated at the conclusion of the previous season.[3] Sabail were promoted and participated in the Premier League this season.[4]

Locations of the 2017–18 Azerbaijan Premier League teams.
Team in italics is from a zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is playing its home games in Baku.

Stadia and locations edit

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Venue Capacity[5]
Gabala Qabala Gabala City Stadium 4,500
Keşla Keshla Inter Arena 8,125
Kapaz Ganja Ganja City Stadium 25,000
Neftchi Baku Baku Bakcell Arena 10,500
Qarabağ Baku Azersun Arena 5,800
Sabail Səbail Bayil Arena 5,000
Sumgayit Sumqayit Kapital Bank Arena 1,500
Zira Baku Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium 1,400

Stadiums edit

Gabala Keşla Kapaz Neftchi Baku
Gabala City Stadium Inter Arena Ganja City Stadium Bakcell Arena
Capacity: 4,500 Capacity: 8,125 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 10,500
     
Qarabağ Sabail Sumgayit Zira
Azersun Arena Bayil Arena Kapital Bank Arena Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium
Capacity: 5,800 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 1,500 Capacity: 1,400
   

Personnel and kits edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Team captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Gabala   Roman Hryhorchuk   Javid Huseynov Joma QafqaZ Hotels[6]
Keşla   Yuriy Maksymov   Kamran Aghayev Joma Samaya LTD
Neftchi Baku   Tarlan Ahmadov   Ruslan Abışov Kappa
Qarabağ   Gurban Gurbanov   Rashad Sadygov Adidas Azersun[7]
Sabail   Samir Aliyev   Eltun Yagublu Nike
Sumgayit   Samir Abbasov   Vurğun Hüseynov Joma Pasha Insurance
Zira   Aykhan Abbasov   Anar Nazirov Joma Santral Electric
Kapaz   Yunis Huseynov   Shahriyar Rahimov Nike Gəncə 4000

Managerial changes edit

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointmentr
Neftchi Baku   Elkhan Abdullayev Resigned 21 August 2017[8] 7th   Elshad Ahmedov (Caretaker) 21 August 2017[9]
Neftchi Baku   Elshad Ahmedov (Caretaker) End of tenure as caretaker 11 September 2017[10] 7th   Tarlan Ahmadov 11 September 2017[11]
Keşla   Zaur Svanadze Resigned 29 October 2017[12] 7th   Ramiz Mammadov (Caretaker) 30 October 2017[13]
Kapaz   Shahin Diniyev Resigned 18 November 2017[14] 8th   Yunis Huseynov 20 November 2017[15]
Keşla   Ramiz Mammadov (Caretaker) End of tenure as caretaker 25 December 2017 7th   Yuriy Maksymov 25 December 2017[16]

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Qarabağ (C) 28 20 5 3 37 13 +24 65 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Gabala 28 14 7 7 43 26 +17 49 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
3 Neftçi Baku 28 14 4 10 39 28 +11 46
4 Zira 28 12 8 8 36 30 +6 44
5 Sumgayit 28 11 7 10 34 33 +1 40
6 Keşla 28 8 7 13 29 39 −10 31 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a]
7 Səbail 28 6 5 17 19 39 −20 23
8 Kapaz (R) 28 3 5 20 18 47 −29 14 Relegation to the Azerbaijan First Division
Source: UEFA, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.[17]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Results edit

Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 28 matches each.[18]

Season statistics edit

Top scorers edit

As of match played 21 May 2018
Rank Player Club Goals
1   Bagaliy Dabo Gabala 13
2   Amil Yunanov Sumgayit 10
3   Steeven Joseph-Monrose Gabala 9
4   Mahir Madatov Qarabağ 8
  Ignacio Herrera Neftçi
6   Richard Gadze Zira 7
7   Famoussa Koné Gabala 6
  Richard Almeida Qarabağ
  Javid Imamverdiyev Sumgayit
  Rahman Hajiyev Neftçi
11   Vusal Isgandarli Zira 5
  Dino Ndlovu Qarabağ
  Mirabdulla Abbasov Neftçi
  Filip Ozobić Gabala
  Milan Đurić Zira
  Ruslan Abışov Neftçi
  Dani Quintana Qarabağ

Clean sheets edit

Updated to matches played on 21 May 2018.
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1   Ibrahim Šehić Qarabağ 13
2   Dmytro Bezotosnyi Gabala 9
3   Rashad Azizli Neftçi 6
  Farhad Valiyev Sumgayit

Scoring edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "11-ci tur". PFL.az. 5 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Preliminary Access List 2018/19". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Premyer Liqa". soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Premyer Liqa". soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  5. ^ Azərbaycan Peşəkar Liqası (in Azerbaijani)
  6. ^ "Deal with new sponsor – QafqaZ Hotels and Resorts". gabalafc.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Qarabağın sponsoru". qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 2014-05-16. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Elxan Abdullayevin istefası qəbul edildi". neftchipfk.com (in Azerbaijani). Neftchi Baku. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Neftçi ni Kəpəz lə oyuna Elşad Əhmədov hazırlaşdıracaq". neftchipfk.com (in Azerbaijani). Neftchi Baku. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Elxan Abdullayevin istefası qəbul edildi". neftchipfk.com (in Azerbaijani). Neftchi Baku. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Tərlan Əhmədov "Neftçi"nin baş məşqçisi təyin olundu". neftchipfk.com (in Azerbaijani). Neftchi Baku. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Keşlə FK-nın məlumatı". inter.az (in Azerbaijani). Keşla FK. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Keşlə FK-nın məlumatı". Keşlafc.az (in Azerbaijani). Keşla FK. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Şahin Diniyev istefa verdi". kapazpfc.az (in Azerbaijani). Kapaz PFK. 18 November 2017. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Yunis Hüseynov baş məşqçi təyin edildi". kapazpfc.az (in Azerbaijani). Kapaz PFK. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Müşahidə Şurasının iclası keçirildi". Keşlafc.az (in Azerbaijani). Keşla FK. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Premyer Liqa: Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Premyer Liqa: Season Rules". scoresway.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  19. ^ "KAPAZ VS. QABALA 1 - 6". soccerway.com/. Soccerway. 25 November 2017.

External links edit