# 2018–19 Neftchi Baku PFK season

The Neftchi Baku 2018–19 season is Neftchi Baku's 27th Azerbaijan Premier League season. Neftchi will compete Azerbaijan Premier League and in the Azerbaijan Cup and Europa League.

## Season review

On 8 June, Roberto Bordin was announced as Neftçi's new manager on a two-year contract.
On 12 June, Ruslan Abışov, Mahammad Mirzabeyov and Kyrylo Petrov all extended their contract with Neftchi Baku.| 2020
On 17 June, Bagaliy Dabo signed a two-year contract with Neftçi Baku.
On 24 June, Neftchi Baku signed Goran Paracki on a two-year contract from Wellington Phoenix.
On 27 June, Rahman Hajiyev signed a new contract with Neftchi Baku, until the summer of 2020.
On 29 June, Neftchi Baku announced the signing of Kwame Karikari from Al-Arabi on a two-year contract.
On 1 July, Soni Mustivar and Anton Krivotsyuk both signed a one-year extension to their contracts, keeping them at Neftchi Baku until the summer of 2020. The following day, 2 July, Namik Alaskarov also extended his contract until the summer of 2020.
On 8 December, Neftchi announced the signing of Mamadou Mbodj on a 2.5-year contract from FK Žalgiris, and a three-year contract with Mamadou Kane. On 20 December, Rashad Eyyubov had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
On 3 January, Neftchi announce the signing of Turan Valizade from Fenerbahçe on a three-year contract. 4 days later, 7 January, Agil Mammadov returned to Neftchi Baku from Gabala for his third stint with the club, signing an 18-month contract. On 23 January, Vangelis Platellas joined from OFI Crete on an 18-month contract. Slavko Bralić had his contract with Neftchi Baku by mutual agreement on 30 January 2019, whilst on the same day Dário moved to Daegu. On 2 February, Gianluca Sansone signed a 1.5-year contract with Neftchi Baku.
On 15 February, Petru Racu signed on a contract until the end of the season.

## Squad

    As of match played 11 May 2019
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Salahat Aghayev | GK | (1991-01-04)4 January 1991 (aged 28) | Inter Baku | 2017 | | 43 | 0 |
| 12 | Kamran Ibrahimov | GK | (1999-06-07)7 June 1999 (aged 19) | Academy | 2015 | | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Agil Mammadov | GK | (1989-05-01)1 May 1989 (aged 30) | Gabala | 2019 | 2020 | 51 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 3 | Mamadou Mbodj | DF | (1993-03-12)12 March 1993 (aged 26) | Žalgiris | 2019 | 2021 | 13 | 5 |
| 4 | Petru Racu | DF | (1987-07-17)17 July 1987 (aged 31) | Sheriff Tiraspol | 2019 | 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Anton Krivotsyuk | DF | (1998-08-20)20 August 1998 (aged 20) | Academy | 2016 | 2020 | 56 | 3 |
| 15 | Ruslan Abışov | DF | (1987-10-10)10 October 1987 (aged 31) | Keşla | 2017 | 2020 | 175+ | 13 |
| 18 | Tural Akhundov | DF | (1988-08-01)1 August 1988 (aged 30) | Sumgayit | 2018 | 2019 | 27 | 0 |
| 21 | Mahammad Mirzabeyov | DF | (1990-11-16)16 November 1990 (aged 28) | Gabala | 2017 | 2019 | 36 | 0 |
| 25 | Kyrylo Petrov | DF | (1990-06-22)22 June 1990 (aged 28) | Olimpik Donetsk | 2017 | 2019 | 62 | 1 |
| 26 | Omar Buludov | DF | (1998-12-15)15 December 1998 (aged 20) | Academy | 2016 | | 29 | 1 |
| 51 | Elchin Asadov | DF | (1999-08-03)3 August 1999 (aged 19) | Academy | 2016 | | 0 | 0 |
| 70 | Əli Şirinov | DF | (1998-08-09)9 August 1998 (aged 20) | Academy | 2017 | | 4 | 0 |
| 77 | Elvin Sarkarov | DF | (1997-02-24)24 February 1997 (aged 22) | Academy | 2016 | | 6 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 6 | Goran Paracki | MF | (1987-01-21)21 January 1987 (aged 32) | Wellington Phoenix | 2018 | 2020 | 26 | 2 |
| 7 | Namik Alaskarov | MF | (1995-02-03)3 February 1995 (aged 24) | Qarabağ | 2017 | 2020 | 70 | 11 |
| 8 | Emin Mahmudov | MF | (1992-04-27)27 April 1992 (aged 27) | Boavista | 2017 | | 54 | 11 |
| 11 | Vangelis Platellas | MF | (1988-12-01)1 December 1988 (aged 30) | OFI Crete | 2019 | 2020 | 13 | 0 |
| 17 | Rahman Hajiyev | MF | (1993-07-25)25 July 1993 (aged 25) | Baku | 2014 | 2020 | 145 | 15 |
| 19 | Fahmin Muradbayli | MF | (1996-03-16)16 March 1996 (aged 23) | Academy | 2013 | | 73 | 6 |
| 20 | Elnur Suleymanov | MF | (1996-09-17)17 September 1996 (aged 22) | Shuvalan | 2017 | | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | Turan Valizade | MF | (2001-01-01)1 January 2001 (aged 18) | Fenerbahçe | 2019 | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | Mamadou Kane | MF | (1997-01-22)22 January 1997 (aged 22) | Kaloum Star | 2019 | 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 93 | Soni Mustivar | MF | (1990-02-12)12 February 1990 (aged 29) | Sporting Kansas City | 2018 | 2020 | 35 | 1 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Bagaliy Dabo | FW | (1988-07-27)27 July 1988 (aged 30) | Gabala | 2018 | 2020 | 30 | 16 |
| 16 | Gianluca Sansone | FW | (1987-05-12)12 May 1987 (aged 31) | Novara | 2019 | 2020 | 11 | 2 |
| 22 | Mirabdulla Abbasov | FW | (1995-04-27)27 April 1995 (aged 24) | Sumgayit | 2017 | | 66 | 13 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| 11 | Kwame Karikari | FW | (1992-01-21)21 January 1992 (aged 27) | Al-Arabi | 2018 | 2020 | 10 | 2 |
| Left during the season ||||||||||
| 4 | Rashad Eyyubov | MF | (1992-12-03)3 December 1992 (aged 26) | Sumgayit | 2018 | 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| 10 | Dário | FW | (1990-02-12)12 February 1990 (aged 29) | Kapaz | 2018 | 2019 | 17 | 3 |
| 28 | Slavko Bralić | DF | (1991-12-15)15 December 1991 (aged 27) | Široki Brijeg | 2018 | 2019 | 13 | 0 |
| 94 | Rashad Azizli | GK | (1994-01-01)1 January 1994 (aged 25) | Sabail | 2017 | | 21 | 0 |
| | Lucas Gómez | FW | (1987-10-06)6 October 1987 (aged 31) | Deportivo Lara | 2018 | 2019 | 16 | 3 |

### On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | AZE | Tayyar Mammadov (at Sabah) |
| — | MF | AZE | Orkhan Gurbanli (at Sabail) |
| — | MF | AZE | Fahmin Muradbayli (at Sabail) |
| — | FW | GHA | Kwame Karikari (at Al Urooba) |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 4 | MF | AZE | Rashad Eyyubov (to Sabah) |
| 10 | FW | BRA | Dário (to Daegu) |
| 28 | DF | CRO | Slavko Bralić |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 94 | GK | AZE | Rashad Azizli (to Sumgayit) |
| — | FW | ARG | Lucas Gómez |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 11 June 2018 | DF | Tural Akhundov | Sumgayit | Undisclosed |
| 11 June 2018 | FW | Dário | Kapaz | Undisclosed |
| 12 June 2018 | MF | Rashad Eyyubov | Sumgayit | Undisclosed |
| 15 June 2018 | DF | Slavko Bralić | Široki Brijeg | Undisclosed |
| 17 June 2018 | FW | Bagaliy Dabo | Gabala | Free |
| 24 June 2018 | MF | Goran Paracki | Wellington Phoenix | Free |
| 29 June 2018 | FW | Kwame Karikari | Al-Arabi | Undisclosed |
| 6 December 2018 | MF | Mamadou Kane | Kaloum Star | Undisclosed |
| 8 December 2018 | DF | Mamadou Mbodj | Žalgiris | Free |
| 3 January 2019 | MF | Turan Valizade | Fenerbahçe | Undisclosed |
| 7 January 2019 | GK | Agil Mammadov | Gabala | Undisclosed |
| 23 January 2019 | MF | Vangelis Platellas | OFI Crete | Undisclosed |
| 2 February 2019 | FW | Gianluca Sansone | Novara | Undisclosed |
| 15 February 2019 | DF | Petru Racu | Sheriff Tiraspol | Free |

### Out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
| 25 December 2018 | GK | | Rashad Azizli | Sumgayit | Undisclosed | |
| 30 January 2019 | FW | | Dário | Daegu | Undisclosed | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 22 January 2019 | FW | | Kwame Karikari | Al Urooba | 1 June 2019 | |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined | Date |
| 31 May 2018 | DF | Ilkin Qirtimov | Zira | 12 June 2018 |
| 31 May 2018 | MF | Farid Abbasli | | |
| 31 May 2018 | MF | Rashad Sadiqov | Sabah | 27 June 2018 |
| 31 May 2018 | MF | Elnur Jafarov | Keşla | 28 July 2018 |
| 31 May 2018 | MF | David Meza | Petrolul Ploiești | 27 July 2019 |
| 31 May 2018 | FW | Ignacio Herrera | Seoul E-Land | 29 June 2018 |
| 25 June 2018 | MF | Francisco García | Independiente | |
| 9 July 2018 | MF | Mike Campaz | Alianza | |
| 20 December 2018 | MF | Rashad Eyyubov | Sabah | 21 December 2018 |
| | GK | Maksim Vaylo | | |
| 31 December 2018 | FW | Lucas Gómez | Juan Aurich | |
| 30 January 2019 | DF | Slavko Bralić | AEL | 31 January 2019 |
| 15 May 2019 | DF | Mahammad Mirzabeyov | Sabah | 18 June 2019 |
| 15 May 2019 | DF | Petru Racu | Petrolul Ploiești | |
| 15 May 2019 | MF | Goran Paracki | Slaven Belupo | |

## Competitions
### Premier League
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 11 May 2019. Source: See Results

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Qarabağ (C) | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 65 | 21 | +44 | 66 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Neftçi Baku | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 52 | 26 | +26 | 58 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Sabail | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 37 | −3 | 41 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Gabala | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 36 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 5 | Zira | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 31 | |

### UEFA Europa League
#### Qualifying rounds
## Squad statistics

    As of Match played 11 May 2019

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | UEFA Europa League | UEFA Europa League |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | AZE | Salahat Aghayev | 32 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SEN | Mamadou Mbodj | 13 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | MDA | Petru Racu | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | AZE | Anton Krivotsyuk | 26 | 3 | 19+4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | CRO | Goran Paracki | 26 | 2 | 14+8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | AZE | Namik Alaskarov | 26 | 4 | 10+13 | 3 | 1+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | AZE | Emin Mahmudov | 27 | 9 | 25+1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | FRA | Bagaliy Dabo | 30 | 16 | 26 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 11 | MF | GRE | Vangelis Platellas | 13 | 0 | 12+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | AZE | Ruslan Abışov | 5 | 1 | 2+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | ITA | Gianluca Sansone | 11 | 2 | 8+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | AZE | Rahman Hajiyev | 19 | 0 | 7+8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | AZE | Tural Akhundov | 27 | 0 | 22+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | AZE | Mahammad Mirzabeyov | 13 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | AZE | Mirabdulla Abbasov | 31 | 7 | 16+12 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | UKR | Kyrylo Petrov | 24 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | AZE | Omar Buludov | 24 | 1 | 20+2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | AZE | Turan Valizade | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | GUI | Mamadou Kane | 9 | 0 | 5+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 70 | DF | AZE | Əli Şirinov | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | DF | AZE | Elvin Sarkarov | 6 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 93 | MF | HAI | Soni Mustivar | 27 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Players away from Neftchi Baku on loan: ||||||||||||
| 11 | FW | GHA | Kwame Karikari | 10 | 2 | 4+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| Players who left Neftchi Baku during the season: ||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | AZE | Rashad Eyyubov | 6 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | BRA | Dário | 17 | 3 | 13+1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | CRO | Slavko Bralić | 13 | 0 | 8+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | UEFA Europa League | Total |
| 1 | FW | 9 | Bagaliy Dabo | 14 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
| 2 | MF | 8 | Emin Mahmudov | 8 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | FW | 22 | Mirabdulla Abbasov | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | DF | 3 | Mamadou Mbodj | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | MF | 7 | Namik Alaskarov | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | FW | 10 | Dário | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | DF | 5 | Anton Krivotsyuk | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | 6 | Goran Paracki | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | FW | 11 | Kwame Karikari | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | FW | 16 | Gianluca Sansone | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | DF | 26 | Omar Buludov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | 15 | Ruslan Abışov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | | | Own goal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 48 | 1 | 3 | 52 |

### Clean sheets

| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | UEFA Europa League | Total |
| 1 | GK | | 1 | Səlahət Ağayev | 12 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| | | | | TOTALS | 12 | 1 | 0 | 13 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | UEFA Europa League | UEFA Europa League | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Salahat Aghayev | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Mamadou Mbodj | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Petru Racu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Anton Krivotsyuk | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | Goran Paracki | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Namik Alaskarov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Emin Mahmudov | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Bagaliy Dabo | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | Vangelis Platellas | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Ruslan Abışov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | Gianluca Sansone | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Rahman Hajiyev | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Tural Akhundov | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 21 | DF | Mahammad Mirzabeyov | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 22 | FW | Mirabdulla Abbasov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Kyrylo Petrov | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | Omar Buludov | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | Agil Mammadov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | Mamadou Kane | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 70 | DF | Əli Şirinov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 93 | MF | Soni Mustivar | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Players who left Neftchi Baku during the season: ||||||||||||
| 28 | DF | Slavko Bralić | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| | | TOTALS | 83 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 94 | 6 |