Arjun Menon
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Azerbaijan host Liechtenstein in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday 1 October 2026, and with neither camp reporting a fresh injury list, the predicted lineups for this one hinge more on selection habit than enforced changes. Both projections below are built from the games each side has actually just played, and with so few absentees on record the real question is simply which of the regulars keep their shirts. The two teams arrive with contrasting sample sizes, so treat the shapes as a working guide rather than a confirmed team sheet.
Predicted Azerbaijan Line-up
Aykhan Abbasov’s side are projected in a 3-4-2-1, which lines up as his own preferred formation rather than a one-off shape for this fixture. The expected XI reads as largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, suggesting the coach has a clear first-choice group even on a small sample. Emil Balayev has started both matches used for this projection and looks the nailed-on choice in goal, while further forward Renat Dadaşov has only one start logged in the sample, making his place look the least secure among the group. That gap between the back-line certainties and the more fluid attacking picks is the main thing to watch before kick-off.
Azerbaijan predicted XI: Emil Balayev; Rahman Dashdamirov, Rahil Mammadov, Tellur Mutallimov; Abdulakh khaybulaev, Aleksey Isaev, Mahir Emreli, Emil Safarov, Emin Makhmudov, Ali Sadikhov; Renat Dadaşov
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 2 | Last 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Emil Balayev | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 2 | Rahman Dashdamirov | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 4 | Rahil Mammadov | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 19 | Tellur Mutallimov | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 6 | Abdulakh khaybulaev | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 20 | Aleksey Isaev | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 10 | Mahir Emreli | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 13 | Emil Safarov | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 8 | Emin Makhmudov | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 21 | Ali Sadikhov | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 9 | Renat Dadaşov | 1/2 | 1/2 |
Liechtenstein Predicted XI
Konrad Fünfstück is expected to set Liechtenstein up in a 3-5-2, his own favoured system, though the projection here is drawn from just a single recent match. It still reads as largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, which is a striking figure given the thin evidence base. Benjamin Buchel started that last outing in goal and is the clearest pick between the sticks, while Livio Meier did not feature and sits at the more uncertain end of the midfield picture. With only one match to go on, this expected XI should be read as a strong hint rather than a settled certainty.
Liechtenstein predicted XI: Benjamin Buchel; Maximilian Göppel, Lars Traber, Nicolas Hasler; Aron Sele, Marcel Büchel, Alessio Hasler, Livio Meier, Liam Kranz; F. Saglam, Fabio Luque Notaro
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 1 | Last 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Benjamin Buchel | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| D | Maximilian Göppel | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| D | Lars Traber | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| D | Nicolas Hasler | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| M | Aron Sele | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| M | Marcel Büchel | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| M | Alessio Hasler | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| M | Livio Meier | 0/1 | 0/1 | |
| M | Liam Kranz | 0/1 | 0/1 | |
| F | 9 | F. Saglam | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| F | Fabio Luque Notaro | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Team News: Who Is Out
For Azerbaijan, no absentees are recorded in the data, so Aykhan Abbasov appears to have his group available and the shape above is built on a squad with no reported gaps to fill. Should the coach still rotate, bench options such as Rufat Abbasov and Musa Qurbanly, each with a start already logged in this projection window, look the most obvious candidates to step into the XI.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| dn1m1gh8307zmoe | injured | Tendon rupture |
It’s the same story for Liechtenstein: no absentees are recorded in the data, leaving Konrad Fünfstück able to pick from a fully available squad on paper. If changes come anyway, Emanuel Zünd and Jonas Weissenhofer stand out among the bench names, both having started in the sample used for this projection.
Where These Predictions Come From
Each predicted lineup is built from that team’s most recent matches only – two for Azerbaijan and just one for Liechtenstein – with more recent games weighted more heavily than older ones when working out who is likely to start. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended is removed from contention before the XI is assembled. Because both samples are small, these projections are tentative and are likely to shift once the official team news for this match is confirmed.
Read also: Azerbaijan vs Liechtenstein Prediction: 01.10.2026 UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Preview
Read also: Azerbaijan vs Liechtenstein Head-to-Head: Record, Stats and Form as of 29 Sep 2026
FAQ
Who is Azerbaijan’s predicted goalkeeper against Liechtenstein?
Emil Balayev is projected to start in goal for Azerbaijan, having started both of the matches used to build this projection.
What formation are Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein expected to use?
Azerbaijan are projected in a 3-4-2-1 under Aykhan Abbasov, while Liechtenstein are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 under Konrad Fünfstück.
Are there any injuries or suspensions for Azerbaijan vs Liechtenstein?
No absentees are recorded in the data for either side, so both predicted lineups are drawn from squads with no reported unavailability.
When do Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein kick off?
The match kicks off on Thursday 1 October 2026 in the UEFA Nations League.