The 8th round of the Misli Premier League witnessed an Azerbaijani derby as the country's two most storied and successful teams, Qarabag and Neftchi, faced off. The interest in the match was high, with nearly 15,000 fans watching from the stands.

In the last 10 derbies, Neftchi had managed to score only 3 goals, with those coming in the last two encounters. The resurgence of the flagship team was evident here, as they achieved what they had failed to do in two seasons in just one match.

Both sides displayed their true character. The match was more about mental warfare than tactics. Although Neftchi appeared closer to victory, neither team deserved to lose based on the fight they put forth.

With the score at 1-3, Qurban Qurbanov switched from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 3-4-3 tactical scheme. This change became the pivotal moment of the match. After each goal, it was clear that this was not the end, and more was to come. Indeed, six goals were scored in a match that reached a thrilling climax without a winner.

We witnessed a true derby. In the remaining part of the season, we can expect at least seven more such exciting encounters, particularly in the matches between Sabah, Qarabag, and Neftchi.

After the match against Qabala, Valdas Dambrauskas did not hide his enjoyment of this game. This draw particularly benefited his team the most, as the Owls are now the sole leaders.

Let’s hope for more matches like this; may the country's football, fans, and public all enjoy and witness the development!