Kazakhstan head into their UEFA Nations League encounter with Azerbaijan on Sunday having already secured promotion to the second tier for the first time in their history.
While qualification is out of reach for Azerbaijan, the hosts will be motivated to try to earn the win which would see them secure a second spot in Group C4.
Azerbaijan are not in a position where they are able to catch their visitors, but they will already be content with their own campaign.
Last time out, they picked up six points from as many matches, something which they have bettered with seven points from a game fewer.
Their second win in succession on Thursday also represented their most notable for many years, Azerbaijan scoring a last-gasp winner to claim a 2-1 victory in Slovakia.
Renat Dadashov, formerly contracted to Wolverhampton Wnderers, and Hojjat Haghverdi each scored their first international goals to seal a memorable victory in Trnava.
Kazakhstan kicked off the latest UEFA Nations League campaign with hope rather than expectation with Slovakia part of their group.
However, they have been excellent throughout, picking up 13 points from five matches to secure promotion to League B with a game to spare.
Two narrow victories over the group favourites have ultimately made the difference, but it set up Magomed Adiyev’s side to get over the line against bottom-palced Belarus on Thursday.
Although the Hawks did not have it all their own way, being pegged back by half time, Bakhtoyar Zaynutdinov’s late goal secured a 2-1 victory in Astana.
Kazakhstan can now head into this encounter with no pressure on their shoulders, although the desire to extend their unbeaten run to six games will provide some motivation. Adiyev will be hoping to lead his side to bounce back from a 1-1 draw with Belarus in their last away game.
Azerbaijan vs Kazakhstan head to head
These two nations have previously met on 10 occasions across all competitions, where Azerbaijan have claimed two victories while Kazakhstan have won five, and they have drawn in three. Azerbaijan have scored nine goals and conceded 15. In their last five meetings, Kazakhstan have won four while Azerbaijan have won one.
Kazakhstan 2-1 Azerbaijan 03/06/11
Azerbaijan 3-2 Kazakhstan 06/09/11
Azerbaijan 0-1 Kazakhstan 26/03/16
Kazakhstan 3-0 Azerbaijan 05/06/18
Kazakhstan 2-0 Azerbaijan 03/06/22
Azerbaijan latest home form
Azerbaijan have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their nine most recent matches. They managed to defeat Belarus 2-0 in their last home game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded seven.
Azerbaijan 1-3 Luxembourg 11/11/21
Azerbaijan 2-2 Qatar 14/11/21
Azerbaijan 0-1 Latvia 29/03/22
Azerbaijan 0-1 Slovakia 10/06/22
Azerbaijan 2-0 Belarus 13/06/22
Azerbaijan latest away form
Azerbaijan have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their eight most recent matches. They defeated Slovakia 2-1 in their last away game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded seven.
Serbia 3-1 Azerbaijan 12/10/21
Malta 1-0 Azerbaijan 25/03/22
Kazakhstan 2-0 Azerbaijan 03/06/22
Belarus 0-0 Azerbaijan 06/06/22
Slovakia 1-2 Azerbaijan 22/09/22
Kazakhstan latest home form
Kazakhstan have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have won each of their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat Belarus 2-1 in their last home game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded three.
Kazakhstan 1-0 Tajikstan 16/11/21
Kazakhstan (P)0-1 Moldova 29/03/22
Kazakhstan 2-0 Azerbaijan 03/06/22
Kazakhstan 2-1 Slovakia 13/06/22
Kazakhstan 2-1 Belarus 22/09/22
Kazakhstan latest away form
Kazakhstan have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Belarus in their last away game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded 12.
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-2 Kazakhstan 07/09/21
France 8-0 Kazakhstan 13/11/21
Moldova 1-2 Kazakhstan 24/03/22
Slovakia 0-1 Kazakhstan 06/06/22
Belarus 1-1 Kazakhstan 10/06/22
Azerbaijan news
Azerbaijan will be without Richard Almeyda after he picked up his second yellow card of the competition in the game against Slovakia.
Aleksey Isayev could get the nod in his place, but that could prove to be the only change if head coach Gianni De Biasi insists on naming a full-strength squad.
Kazakhstan news
Kazakhstan head into the contest with two suspension issues of their own, with Zaynutdinov and Askhat Tagybergen both missing out on Sunday.
Elkhan Astanov and Islambek Kuat appear most likely to come into the starting XI, with further changes possible if Adiyev wishes to take a look at other players.
Prediction and Odds
With the stakes having lowered for Kazakhstan, they are not likely to perform with the same kind of intensity they have been carried through their matches so far.
That said, we expect the teams to play out a draw, with the two sides having secured results above their expectations during this campaign.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.22
Probable outcomes
Azerbaijan 0-0 Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan 1-1 Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan 2-2 Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan 0-1 Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan 1-2 Kazakhstan
