Preview: Sweden vs. Azerbaijan – prediction, team news, lineups

Having booked an immediate return to Liga B, Sweden can play their final UEFA Nations League stress-free group games as they welcome Azerbaijan to Solna on Tuesday.

While Blagult have already confirmed the top spot, their Azeri counterparts are certain to finish last League C group 1 and are at risk of relegation.

Match preview

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After dominating their third-tier opponents this season, Sweden confirmed promotion on Saturday night, seeing off the challenge of second-placed Slovakia by winning 2-1 at home.

The Swedes’ powerful front pair of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both scored again, with the latter strengthening his already glowing reputation becoming the 2024-2025 Nations League’s joint top scorer on five goals.

With such firepower at hand, it’s no surprise Jon Dahl Tomassons side have secured top spot with one game remaining and they can afford to relax until World Cup qualification starts next year.

Sweden would even have had a perfect record if they managed to hold on to a two-goal lead in Slovakia, who fought back to steal a point in Bratislava last month.

It all started with a 3-1 away win over Azerbaijan in September, with Isak and Gyokeres both on target in Baku, and Tomasson’s men must now wrap things up by facing the same opponents at home.

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In their third successive League C campaign, Azerbaijan occupy last place in a particularly tough group, having picked up just one point from five matches so far.

Coming into this month’s final, they had lost 3-1 to both Sweden and Estonia – and twice to Slovakia – so they faced a must-win game on Saturday night.

After failing to break down Estonia in Qabala, where they were held to a goalless draw despite dominating possession, the Azeris could be heading for relegation to Liga D – Europe’s lowest tier.

Two of the teams that finish last in their League C groups – those with the worst results after all six games – will be relegated, sitting at the bottom of the four-nation mini-league as things stand.

After being hired earlier this year, veteran coach Fernando Santos have been unable to reverse Azerbaijan’s fortunes and their last win came against Kazakhstan five months ago – ending that drought in Sweden will be a tall order.

Sweden Nations League form:

Sweden form (all competitions):

Azerbaijan’s Nations League form:

Azerbaijan form (all competitions):

Team news

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One of several changes expected in Sweden’s line-up will be enforced by an injury that Manchester United defender Victor Lindelöf was forced off during Saturday’s win against Slovakia and could be substituted another spell on the sidelines.

With promotion already complete, Jon Dahl Tomasson can afford to rotate his team, so the hosts’ potent attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Dejan Kulusevski may be broken up.

Tomasson signed up Isaac Lidberg – who has scored 10 goals in 12 club appearances this season – following a string of withdrawals, including the Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. The Darmstadt striker could join Tottenham Hotspurs Lucas Bergvall in the side, if Blagulten’s boss decides to rest some tired legs.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan have been plagued by injuries this month, with players such as Emin Mahmudov and Rustam Ahmadzada withdraws from the squad.

First choice striker Mahir Emreli however, is back after serving suspension and he could replace Qarabags Musa Gurbanliwho substitutes at the weekend.

Experienced goalkeeper Mehdi Jannatov was dropped after delivering 11 goals in four Nations League games, then Rza Jafarov was to be handed his third cap after keeping a clean sheet against Estonia.

Sweden’s possible starting line-up:
Johansson; Starfelt, Hien, Gudmundsson; Holm, Karlstrøm, Bergvall, Sema; Forsberg; Isaac, Lidberg

Azerbaijan possible starting line-up:
Jafarov; Aliyev, Mustafazada, B. Huseynov, Mammadov, Cafarguliyev; Sheydayev, Nuriyev, Isayev, Bayramov; Emreli

We say: Sweden 3-0 Azerbaijan

Neither side have much to play for, so an outright Swedish win should be expected against opponents who have leaked plenty of goals so far.

The hosts will write off their brief stint in League C with a celebratory victory, while Azerbaijan are surely on course for the Nations League’s bottom tier.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, please click here.

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