2017–18 Azerbaijan Premier League
Football league season
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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.
| Season | 2017–18 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 August 2017 – 19 May 2018 |
| Champions | Qarabağ |
| Relegated | Kapaz |
| Champions League | Qarabağ |
| Europa League | Gabala Neftçi Baku Keşla |
| Matches | 112 |
| Goals | 255 (2.28 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Bagaliy Dabo (13 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Qarabağ 4–1 Sumgayit (22 September 2017) |
| Biggest away win | Kapaz 1–6 Gabala (25 November 2017) |
| Highest scoring | Kapaz 1–6 Gabala (25 November 2017) |
| Highest attendance | 13,300 Kapaz 0–2 Qarabağ (5 November 2017)[1] |
← 2016–17 2018–19 →
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, who retained the title by winning the championship for the fifth consecutive year.[3]
Teams
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.
Team in italics is from a zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is playing its home games in Baku.
Stadia and locations
- 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
| 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
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
| 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
| 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:
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:
- Keşla qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning 2017–18 Azerbaijan Cup.
Results
Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 28 matches each.[18]
Games 1–14 |
Games 15–28
|
Season statistics
Top scorers
- 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
- 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
- First goal of the season: Mahir Madatov for Qarabağ against Neftçi Baku. (11 August 2017)
- Fastest goal of the season: 26th second,
- Bagaliy Dabo for Gabala against Kapaz (25 November 2017)[19]