The opening leg of this UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round tie takes place at Sumgayit City Stadium on 8 July 2026, with Zira FK hosting FC Torpedo Kutaisi. Win this two legged affair and you're through to the second qualifying round, lose it and European football is over before summer ends, with the return leg following on 16 July in Kutaisi.
Zira finished fifth in the Azerbaijani Premier League and reached the Azerbaijan Cup final, which is what got them here. Torpedo arrive in better domestic rhythm, having won the Georgian Super Cup. Betting markets give Zira a slight edge at home. Rashad Sadygov has been in charge since July 2020, long enough to build a settled defensive identity around the squad, whereas Dirk Schuster took over Torpedo only in February 2025 on a three year deal, bringing assistant Sascha Franz and building around physicality and dead ball situations. The two managers haven't faced each other before, so there is no prior tactical chess match to draw from.
Neither side arrives on a convincing run. Zira's last five domestic results were a 2-3 defeat to Araz Nakhchivan, a 2-1 win over Sumqayit, a 1-2 loss to Sabah, a 0-0 draw with Imisli and a 1-0 win against Gabala. Torpedo's five game stretch was similarly uneven, covering a win over Dinamo Tbilisi, then defeats against Gagra, Samgurali and Dinamo Batumi and a draw with Spaeri. The Georgian Super Cup is the one recent result that flatters them.
Both sides appear close to full strength, with Torpedo reporting no injury concerns and Zira similarly healthy and both coaches tend to work from a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape. Zira's likely starting eleven has Aydyn Bayramov in goal, a back four of Elchin Alicanov, Ruan Renato, Ange Mutsinzi and Qismat Aliyev, a midfield two of Ismayil Ibrahimli and Guima and an attacking line of Martins Júnior, Vieirinha and Giorgi Papunashvili behind striker Eren Aydın. Torpedo are expected to line up with Oto Goshadze in goal and Luka Kuprava marshalling the defence.
Sadygov has built Zira into a team that doesn't give you anything cheaply. At Sumgayit, Papunashvili tends to drop deep to receive and turn before driving at the defensive line, while Guima and Martins Júnior provide the energy to press and recycle possession in behind him. Schuster's side press well and dominate through the middle and their physicality at dead ball situations will pose real questions for Ruan Renato and Mutsinzi.
0-0. The clubs have never met, which matters less than the fact that both have struggled to convert consistently in recent weeks. Zira's defensive shape at home should limit Torpedo's clearest chances, while Torpedo's midfield press should deny Zira the space to build through Guima and Papunashvili. A goalless draw means the tie is decided in Kutaisi on 16 July.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
