# 2017–18 Azerbaijan Premier League

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.
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.
Qarabağ were the defending champions.

## Teams

Shuvalan was relegated at the conclusion of the previous season. Sabail were promoted and participated in the Premier League this season.

### Stadia and locations

    Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity |
| 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 |
| Keşla | Yuriy Maksymov | Kamran Aghayev | Joma | Samaya LTD |
| Neftchi Baku | Tarlan Ahmadov | Ruslan Abışov | Kappa | |
| Qarabağ | Gurban Gurbanov | Rashad Sadygov | Adidas | Azersun |
| 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 | 7th | Elshad Ahmedov (Caretaker) | 21 August 2017 |
| Neftchi Baku | Elshad Ahmedov (Caretaker) | End of tenure as caretaker | 11 September 2017 | 7th | Tarlan Ahmadov | 11 September 2017 |
| Keşla | Zaur Svanadze | Resigned | 29 October 2017 | 7th | Ramiz Mammadov (Caretaker) | 30 October 2017 |
| Kapaz | Shahin Diniyev | Resigned | 18 November 2017 | 8th | Yunis Huseynov | 20 November 2017 |
| Keşla | Ramiz Mammadov (Caretaker) | End of tenure as caretaker | 25 December 2017 | 7th | Yuriy Maksymov | 25 December 2017 |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | 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 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 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 |
| 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 |
* ↑ 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.

## 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 |
| 4 | Ignacio Herrera | Neftçi | 8 |
| 6 | Richard Gadze | Zira | 7 |
| 7 | Famoussa Koné | Gabala | 6 |
| 7 | Richard Almeida | Qarabağ | 6 |
| 7 | Javid Imamverdiyev | Sumgayit | 6 |
| 7 | Rahman Hajiyev | Neftçi | 6 |
| 11 | Vusal Isgandarli | Zira | 5 |
| 11 | Dino Ndlovu | Qarabağ | 5 |
| 11 | Mirabdulla Abbasov | Neftçi | 5 |
| 11 | Filip Ozobić | Gabala | 5 |
| 11 | Milan Đurić | Zira | 5 |
| 11 | Ruslan Abışov | Neftçi | 5 |
| 11 | Dani Quintana | Qarabağ | 5 |

### 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 |
| 3 | Farhad Valiyev | Sumgayit | 6 |

### 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)