(The Great Game in English) is an Azerbaijani football rivalry between Neftçi Baku and Khazar Lankaran. The fixture had developed into an intense and often bitter one, traditionally attracting large attendances.Тихон Шишов: Если я завоюю титул с «Хазар-Лянкяраном» The tie was played out at numerous venues across the cities, with Khazar Lankaran Central Stadium being the stadium most synonymous with the fixture, having hosted more games than any other.

History

Cultural rivalry

The clubs have large support bases in Baku, as well as supporters’ groups in most towns across Azerbaijan. The relationship between the two teams has long been marked by strong animosity, as the rivalry represents two geographic regions: Neftchi symbolizes the north of Azerbaijan, while Khazar Lankaran represents the south.Раиль МЕЛИКОВ: «Это главное дерби Азербайджана и его невозможно сравнить с другим матчем» 50 saat qalmış

Football rivalry The first game played between the two sides was an Azerbaijan Premier League fixture on Wednesday, 8 December 2004. The game, staged at Lankaran City stadium, finished 1–1 draw.Derbini indiydək neçə azarkeş izləyib? Both clubs compete each other for the title of the most successful football club in the country.

The Great Game Marathon In 2011, the derby reached its ultimate peak as both clubs had to play each other 4 times during 33 days, after Azerbaijan Cup draws and Azerbaijan Premier League format changes. Khazar once became triumphant over Neftchi, even though all other remaining games ended in draw.

Unbeaten series of Khazar Lankaran

Khazar Lankaran has the longest unbeaten series in Great Games. Last time Lankaran side lost to Neftchi on 12 April 2009 (2:1). After that date 11 games have been played between both teams in all competitions. In three of last eleven encounters Khazar Lankaran beat their rival and other matches finished with draw.

On 6 November 2011, Neftchi broke Khazar's 938 days of unbeaten run and recorded the biggest win in derby, by beating Khazar 5–0 in Baku.

Current issues The rivalry intensified in 2013 due to the final of the Azerbaijan Cup. Several accusations of unsportsmanlike behaviour from both teams and a war of words erupted throughout the fixtures which included post-match fight between fans and players.

Supporters rivalry The rivalry turned bitter after Neftchi won Azerbaijan Premier League title by beating Khazar Lankaran in play off match. Over time, the rivalry became more heated and club fans began attaining collective identities. Neftchi was seen as a capital club, while Khazar was viewed as regional club and supported by the south regions of Azerbaijani society.Paytaxt təmsilçilərinin manevr şansı qalıbmı? Тринадцатое противостояние

Crowd attendances for first 21 games, has exceeded 229,000 supporters.

All-time results

League Khazar Lankaran vs Neftchi Baku Neftchi Baku vs Khazar Lankaran Season Division Date Venue Score Attendance Date Venue Score Attendance2004-05Top League08.12.2004Lankaran City Stadium 1 – 111.05.2005Tofik Bakhramov Stadium2 – 1Championship Play-off To determine League winner (Played at neutral venue):10.06.2005Ganja City Stadium2 – 125,0002005-06Top League18.12.2005Lankaran City Stadium 0 – 130.05.2006Tofik Bakhramov Stadium2 – 22006-07Top League11.08.2006Lankaran City Stadium 2 – 116.02.2007Tofik Bakhramov Stadium1 – 02007-08Premier League10.11.2007Lankaran City Stadium 0 – 111.05.2008Tofik Bakhramov Stadium0 – 12008-09Premier League19.10.2008Lankaran City Stadium 2 – 012.04.2009Tofik Bakhramov Stadium2 – 12009-10Premier League08.11.2009Lankaran City Stadium 0 – 012,00017.02.2010Tofik Bakhramov Stadium0 – 03,000Championship Group27.03.2010Lankaran City Stadium 0 – 014,00001.05.2010 Tofik Bakhramov Stadium0 – 04,0002010-11Premier League25.09.2010Lankaran City Stadium 1 – 011,00013.02.2011Tofik Bakhramov Stadium0 – 02,500Championship Group18.03.2011Lankaran City Stadium 1 – 115,00018.05.2011 Tofik Bakhramov Stadium1 – 17,5002011-12Premier League10.09.2011Lankaran City Stadium 1 – 014,00006.11.2011 Ismat Gayibov Stadium5 – 02,500Championship Group22.04.2012Lankaran City Stadium 1 – 01,20024.03.2012 Ismat Gayibov Stadium1 – 14,5002012-13Premier League14.12.2012Lankaran City Stadium 2 – 19,50015.09.2012 Ismat Gayibov Stadium2 – 14,5002013-14Premier League25.08.2013Lankaran City Stadium 0 – 010,00002.11.2013 Bakcell Arena4 – 12,00009.02.2014Lankaran City Stadium 2 – 211,00029.03.2014 Bakcell Arena1 – 04,0002014-15Premier League24.11.2014Dalga Arena 2 – 21,20013.09.2014 Ismat Gayibov Stadium1 – 02,00009.04.2015Lankaran City Stadium2 – 24,50011.02.2015Bakcell Arena2 – 02,0002015-16Premier League22.11.2015Lankaran City Stadium0 – 29,00020.09.2015Bakcell Arena1 – 11,50010.04.2016Lankaran City Stadium0 – 13,50013.02.2016Bakcell Arena1 – 02,500

Cup Season Competition Round Date Stadium Home team Score Away team Attendance Notes2010–11 Cup Quarter Final Leg 1 03.03.2011Tofik Bakhramov StadiumNeftchi Baku 3 – 4Khazar Lankaran5,000Khazar progressed 5 – 4 on aggregate Quarter Final Leg 2 08.03.2011Lankaran City Stadium Khazar Lankaran1 – 1Neftchi Baku 15,000 2012–13 Cup Final 28.05.2013Tofik Bakhramov StadiumNeftchi Baku 0 – 0Khazar Lankaran20,000Neftchi won 5 – 3 on penalties 2013–14 SuperCup Supercup 23.10.2013Nakhchivan City StadiumNeftchi Baku 1 – 2Khazar Lankaran9,8002015–16 Cup Quarter Final Leg 1 02.03.2016Lankaran City Stadium Khazar Lankaran 3 – 2Neftchi Baku4,500Neftchi progressed 4 – 3 on aggregate Quarter Final Leg 2 09.03.2016Bakcell Arena Neftchi Baku2 – 0Khazar Lankaran 2,500

Statistics

Head to head record CompetitionPlayed Neftchi BakuDrawKhazar LankaranAzerbaijan Premier League3715157Azerbaijan Cup5122Azerbaijan Supercup1001Totals43161710 Note: League championship statistics includes play-off match for the 2004–05 title, which Neftchi won 2–1.

Statistics obtained from Apasport

Highest attendance + Attendance Records Rank Attendance Date Game Stadium 126,120 10 June 2005 Neftchi Baku – Khazar Lankaran Ganja City Stadium 220,000 28 May 2013 Neftchi Baku – Khazar Lankaran Tofiq Bahramov Stadium

Highest goalscorers

+ Top Ten Highest Goalscorers Player Period period for the club Club where player shot the most goals Goals 1 Flavinho 2010 – present Neftchi 7 2 Zaur Tagizade 2004–10 Neftchi 4 2 Julius Wobay 2011 Khazar 4 3 Bahodir Nasimov 2010 – 2014 Neftchi 3 4 Winston Parks 2010–11 Khazar 2 4 Rashad Abdullayev 2004–09 Khazar 2 4 Zaur Ramazanov 2005–08 Khazar 2 4 Nicolás Canales 2012–13 Neftchi 2 4 Svetoslav Petrov 2006–09 Neftchi 2

Switching sides (In bold: Transfer between both clubs)

Players Transfers between both clubs are rare, only few in last decade. PlayerKhazar Lankaran careerNeftçi careerSpanLeagueappsLeaguegoalsSpanLeagueappsLeaguegoals Rashad Abdullayev2004–2009116122009–20128616 Ruslan Abışov2012–20131712006–20122017–20191163986 Emin Quliyev2005–2009701020022004–2005163325 Mahmud Qurbanov2005–20074931996–19972004–2005233633 Branimir Subašić2011–20134392005–20086531 Julius Wobay20111952012–20155815

Managers Agaselim Mirjavadov (Neftchi 1987–88; 2004–06, Khazar 2006–10)

See also Neftchi Baku Khazar Lankaran Major football rivalries

References

External links