The upcoming Champions League match between Azerbaijani club Qarabağ FK and Spanish team Athletic Bilbao is highly significant, with Qarabağ having won both of their previous matches and currently leading their group with six points. In contrast, Athletic Bilbao has lost both of their first two matches, placing them near the bottom of the standings. Experts and commentators, including Rövşən Binnətli, emphasize that Qarabağ approaches this game as a leader and considers the match as almost a final, highlighting their impressive start and offensive style of play. The match at San Mames stadium is seen as a crucial test for Qarabağ, which has achieved remarkable results despite Azerbaijani football's overall decline. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao needs a positive result to boost their standing, with the game viewed as almost a final for them. Tensions have also been visible off the pitch, with unknown individuals posting anti-Azerbaijani leaflets and labels ahead of the match, reflecting broader regional and political tensions. The match is expected to be tightly contested, with predictions suggesting a potential draw, but both teams are motivated to perform strongly in this prestigious tournament.