The AZAL Courier
Match9 Sep 2026
AZAL march on in the cup
Sumgayit are out and AZAL go through, 1‑0 the final word. The bracket opens up a little, and everyone allows themselves a look at it.
Player ratings14 Sep 2026
Mahir Bayramov, 35, rolls back the years — 8.43
There is an age at which every good afternoon gets described as a throwback, which is unfair and also accurate. 8.43 at 35, and nobody on the pitch was better.
Market14 Sep 2026
Cavid Ramazanov asks to leave AZAL
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Player ratings14 Sep 2026
A chastening introduction for Rufat Ramazanov — 5.69
It is a hard way to meet a crowd. Marked 5.69 on the day he was handed the shirt, and the important thing now is what the next one looks like.
Squad14 Sep 2026
Ekrem Stancic is a better footballer than he was
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 19 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
Squad14 Sep 2026
Jakob Novak falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Match12 Sep 2026
A bad afternoon for AZAL against Inter
1‑2 to Inter, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.
Squad14 Sep 2026
No hiding place for Eldar Kuliev
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Eldar Kuliev, and the manager let it.
Loan watch14 Sep 2026
Ruslan Nadirov wants to come home
“I did not go to Ravan to sit and watch. I want to come back to AZAL and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 5 matches say the rest.
In brief
- Squad Rashad Madatov dropped after a run of poor form
- Player ratings Nobody could get near Renat Amirguliyev
- Player ratings A day to forget for Ruslan Nadirov