European first is the Azeri incentive

Azeri clubs will look to go where none have gone before this summer by progressing beyond the opening round of a European competition for the first time.

İnter hopes
The biggest hopes are pinned on champions FC İnter Bakı, who meet FK Rabotnicki of F.Y.R. Macedonia in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League on 15 and 27 July. Coach Valentin Khodukin is approaching the tie with confidence. "I'm happy with the work we've done and with the players we've brought in," he said. "Now let's see what we can do on the pitch." For the first time İnter will have a pair of Brazilians in their ranks after signing goalkeeper Wilson and defender Daniel Assioli, as well as former Belarus midfielder Valentin Belkevich and former Moldovan international Oleg Sischin. İnter may, however, be short of firepower following the departure of Branimir Subašić to FK Crvena Zvezda and remain in the market for a striker.

Khazar confident
FK Khazar Länkäran held NK Dinamo Zagreb to a 1-1 draw in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie last season before bowing out 4-2 on aggregate. With that squad largely intact, they will be confident of making progress against KKS Lech Poznań in the UEFA Cup this time round. "Last season we were drawn against the strongest possible team and fought with pride against Croatia's top side," coach Agasalim Mirjavadov said. "Lech are a big team for us and we'll give everything to get past them." Striker Claudiu Răducanu has arrived from FC Universitatea Cluj while Brazilian playmaker Mário Souza has moved on.

Olimpik changes
FK Olimpik Bakı make their European debut against FK Vojvodina in the UEFA Cup after surprisingly finishing second to İnter in the league. Olimpik have made major changes over the summer with nine regulars leaving including Azeri internationals Elvin Aliyev and Farrukh Ismailov as well as leading striker Junivan Suarez, but they have also recruited well. Notable signings include Brazilian defender Diano, from PFC Levski Sofia, Moldova captain Serghei Lascencov and Mikheil Khutsishvili, who was the Gerogian league's top scorer with FC Dinamo Tbilisi last season. "I'm sure the wholescale changes we've made will be worth it," coach Asker Abdullayev said. "We have strengthened in every area apart from up front but we're also looking in that direction."

Serbia success
Abdullayev was coach of the Azerbaijan side that held Serbia to a 2-2 draw in February 2002 before defeating them 2-1 in Baku in a UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier four months later. "Everyone knows the level of Serbian football, and it tells you a lot about Vojvodina that they finished third in their league," he said. "People often remind me we defeated their national team when I was in charge, but that doesn't mean anything now. We will be facing a club with over 100 years of history and doing well in the present, and we're preparing very seriously for our UEFA Cup debut."
Source Uefa

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