Azerbaijan 1-3 France: Mateta and Akliouche Inspire Les Bleus to Victory in Baku
Azerbaijan vs France: Les Bleus Recover From Early Shock to Finish World Cup Qualifying in Style
Baku Olympic Stadium, 16 November 2025 – France recovered from an early setback to beat Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku and finish their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a strong victory.
Renat Dadashov stunned Didier Deschamps' much-changed side with an early fourth-minute opener, but France quickly responded through Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maghnes Akliouche before an unfortunate own goal completed the scoring.
The victory gave France 16 points from 18, along with an impressive +22 goal difference, as Les Bleus ended their qualifying campaign at the top of Group D.
Azerbaijan 1-3 France: Final Score
Azerbaijan: Renat Dadashov 4'
France: Jean-Philippe Mateta 17', Maghnes Akliouche 30', Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev (OG) 45'
Venue: Baku Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 31,200
Man of the Match: Jean-Philippe Mateta – 8.4 rating
The Context: France Already Top, Azerbaijan Playing for Pride
France arrived in Baku having already secured top spot following their emphatic victory over Ukraine. With qualification settled and other fixtures on the horizon, Didier Deschamps made sweeping changes to his starting XI.
Several established stars were rested, allowing younger players and fringe members of the squad to demonstrate their credentials.
Among those given an opportunity were Malo Gusto, Maghnes Akliouche, Hugo Ekitike and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Azerbaijan, meanwhile, entered the contest with little more than pride at stake. Their campaign had been difficult, but they were determined to give their supporters something to celebrate against one of Europe's strongest international sides.
First Half: France Recover From Nightmare Start
4th Minute – Azerbaijan Strike First
Azerbaijan shocked the visitors inside four minutes.
Rahman Dasdamirov exploited space on the left before delivering a dangerous low cross into the penalty area. Renat Dadashov reacted quickest, getting ahead of Lucas Hernández to finish from close range.
The Baku crowd erupted as Azerbaijan took a stunning 1-0 lead.
France suddenly had to respond after their much-changed line-up was caught cold.
17th Minute – Mateta Levels
France's response was swift.
Malo Gusto advanced down the right before delivering an excellent cross into the box. Jean-Philippe Mateta rose strongly between the defenders and powered his header beyond the goalkeeper.
The equaliser restored France's composure and gave Mateta a memorable moment on the international stage.
19th Minute – VAR Denies France
France thought they had taken the lead just two minutes later.
Gusto's effort took a deflection and found the net, but the goal was reviewed by VAR. The officials ruled that the ball had struck Christopher Nkunku's arm during the build-up.
The goal was therefore disallowed, allowing Azerbaijan to remain level.
30th Minute – Akliouche Puts France Ahead
France continued to dominate possession and eventually found their second goal.
Bradley Barcola created space on the left before combining with Gusto. The Chelsea full-back delivered a low ball across the area, where Maghnes Akliouche arrived at the perfect moment to finish from close range.
The Monaco youngster's composed finish put France 2-1 ahead and highlighted the quality emerging from the French squad.
45th Minute – Own Goal Gives France Breathing Space
Azerbaijan were hoping to reach half-time within one goal of France, but the visitors struck again.
A dangerous corner created confusion inside the penalty area before the ball ricocheted towards goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev. The unfortunate goalkeeper could not prevent it from crossing the line.
France went into the interval with a 3-1 advantage.
Half-Time Statistics
Azerbaijan 1-3 France
Shots: 2-14
Possession: 27%-73%
xG: 0.18-2.47
Azerbaijan 1-3 France: Les Bleus Survive Early Scare to Sign Off World Cup Qualifying in Style. Baku Olympic Stadium, 16 November 2025 – On a bitterly cold night in the Azerbaijani capital, France were given a rude awakening by the group’s whipping boys before eventually cruising to a 3-1 victory that rounded off their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign with 16 points from 18 and a +22 goal difference.
A shock fourth-minute opener from Renat Dadashov stunned Didier Deschamps’ much-changed side, but Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, Monaco’s rising star Maghnes Akliouche, and an unfortunate own goal from goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev ensured Les Bleus finished top of Group D and head into the December finals draw with momentum intact.
Final Score Azerbaijan 1–3 France Dadashov 4′ Mateta 17′, Akliouche 30′, Mahammadaliyev (OG) 45′
Venue: Baku Olympic Stadium Attendance: 31,200 (near sell-out) Man of the Match: Jean-Philippe Mateta (France) – 8.4 rating.
The Context: France Already Champions, Azerbaijan Playing for Pride France arrived in Baku having already sealed top spot with Thursday’s 4-0 demolition of Ukraine in Paris – a night when Kylian Mbappé had bagged a brace to reach the magical 400 career goals milestone. With qualification long secured and a friendly against Brazil looming in ten days, Didier Deschamps rang the changes: nine alterations from the Ukraine game. Mbappé (ankle), Olivier Giroud (rested), Antoine Griezmann (minor calf), Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga were all left in France, while Mike Maignan, William Saliba, and Dayot Upamecano stayed on the bench. 
In came youth and fringe players desperate to impress: 21-year-old Malo Gusto at right-back, 20-year-old Maghnes Akliouche on the right wing, 22-year-old Hugo Ekitike up front, and Mateta handed only his third start for Les Bleus. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, sat bottom with a solitary point from a draw against Luxembourg and had conceded 28 goals in seven games. Gianni De Biasi’s side had nothing but pride to play for, yet the Italian coach had repeatedly spoken of “showing we belong on the same pitch”.
First Half: From Nightmare Nightmare Start to Clinical Response 4th minute – Shock in the Caucasus Rahman Dasdamirov, the 23-year-old Qarabağ left-back, exploited a momentary lapse from Gusto, sprinting 50 yards before drilling a low cross into the six-yard box. Renat Dadashov – the only Azerbaijani player currently at a top-five European league club (Grasshopper Zürich) – stole half a yard on Lucas Hernández and swept home first time. The stadium erupted; De Biasi punched the air; Deschamps simply stared at the turf. France 0–1 down in Baku. Social media exploded within seconds. 
17th minute – Mateta announces himself France’s response was swift and surgical. Gusto, keen to atone, overlapped Akliouche and whipped in a delicious out-swinging cross. Jean-Philippe Mateta rose imperiously between two defenders and thundered a header past Mahammadaliyev. 1-1. The Palace striker wheeled away, kissing the badge on his sleeve – only his second senior international goal, but both have come in starting appearances. 19th minute – VAR drama Two minutes later France thought they had turned the game around. Gusto’s drive from 22 yards took a wicked deflection off Christopher Nkunku and looped into the net. Wild celebrations… until the referee signalled VAR. After a two-minute review, Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić ruled that the ball had struck Nkunku’s upper arm in the build-up. Goal chalked off. Azerbaijani players mobbed the referee in delight. 30th minute – Akliouche’s moment of magic Undeterred, France kept probing. Bradley Barcola, lively on the left, nutmegged Bədavi Hüseynov and fed Gusto again. The Chelsea full-back ghosted to the back post and squared first time; Akliouche arrived at pace to side-foot home from eight yards. 2-1. The Monaco youngster, making only his fourth appearance, sprinted to the corner flag pointing to the Monaco crest on his chest – a nod to the club that has given him his breakthrough season (11 goals, 9 assists already in 2025-26). 
42nd minute – Another goal ruled out Hugo Ekitike thought he had made it 3-1 when he turned home Khephren Thuram’s knockdown, but VAR again intervened – this time for handball against the PSG striker in the build-up. France were dominating (73 % possession, 11 shots to 1) but the scoreline remained precarious. 45th minute – The gift Just when Azerbaijan dared to dream of reaching half-time only one behind, disaster struck. Thuram met Barcola’s inswinging corner with a knee at the near post; the ball looped up, struck the unfortunate Mahammadaliyev on the shoulder, and trickled over the line. 3-1. The goalkeeper sank to his knees; De Biasi simply applauded his players sarcastically for the effort. Half-time: Azerbaijan 1–3 France Shots: 2–14 | xG: 0.18–2.47 | Possession: 27 %–73 % Second Half: Professional, Controlled, and Occasionally Ruthless With the three points effectively secured, France shifted into exhibition mode. Mateta should have had his second in the 53rd minute when Theo Hernández – on for the quieter Lucas – floated a perfect cross, but the striker steered wide from ten yards.
Thuram then rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard piledriver that had substitute keeper Aydin Bayramov (on for the injured Mahammadaliyev) beaten all ends up.
Azerbaijan, to their eternal credit, never stopped running. Dadashov forced a smart low save from Lucas Chevalier in the 68th minute, and substitute Ramil Sheydayev’s curling effort in the 79th skimmed the far post. But France’s second string were simply too good: Akliouche and Barcola toyed with the tiring full-backs, while 19-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery – on for his 12th cap – dictated tempo with the poise of a 30-year-old.
Deschamps emptied the bench in the final quarter: Désiré Doué (18), Elye Wahi (22), and Rayan Cherki (22) all earned minutes as France’s youth revolution continued. The final whistle sparked polite applause from the home crowd – appreciation for their own team’s spirit and acknowledgement that, on the night, they had been thoroughly outclassed by a France B-team that would walk into most international XIs.
Player Ratings
Azerbaijan (4-2-3-1) S. Mahammadaliyev 4.8 | Hüs. Hüseynov 5.9 | Mustafazade 5.7 | Məhəmmədov 5.5 | Dasdamirov 6.8 | Qurbanlı 5.9 | İ. İbrahimli 5.7 | Bayramov (gk, 46′) 6.1 | Emreli 5.6 | Nuriyev 5.4 | Dadashov 6.9 (MotM for Azerbaijan) | Sheydayev (66′) 6.2
France (4-2-3-1) Chevalier 6.8 | Gusto 7.9 | Konaté 7.1 | L. Hernández 6.7 | T. Hernández (60′) 7.4 | Zaïre-Emery 7.6 | Thuram 7.8 | Akliouche 8.2 | Nkunku 7.3 | Barcola 7.7 | Mateta 8.4 (MotM) Subs: Doué (75′) 6.9 | Wahi (80′) 6.5 | Cherki (80′) 6.7
What It Means France finish Group D with 16 points (five wins, one draw, one defeat – the shock 1-0 loss in Luxembourg back in March), +22 GD, and only four goals conceded. They will be seeded in Pot 1 for the December 5 World Cup draw in New York alongside the likes of Brazil, Argentina, England, and Spain. 
Azerbaijan end with one point – still their joint-best ever qualifying campaign (matching 2010) – and can reflect on a night when, for four glorious minutes, they led the 2022 runners-up. Dadashov’s goal will live long in Baku folklore.
Post-Match Reaction
Didier Deschamps: “Credit to Azerbaijan – they scored a very good goal and made life difficult early on. But the reaction was excellent. Mateta, Akliouche, Gusto, Zaïre-Emery… these boys showed they are ready for the biggest stage. We finish the group with 16 points and many positives.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta: “To score here, in front of 30,000, is a dream. I just want to keep working. If the coach needs me in 2026, I’ll be ready.”
Renat Dadashov: “We showed we can compete. Four minutes leading France? That’s something I’ll tell my grandchildren.”
The Bigger Picture: France’s Depth Is Frightening
On a night when Mbappé, Griezmann, Giroud, Saliba, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, and Maignan were all absent, France still fielded a side containing €450 million worth of talent and won comfortably away from home. The production line – Akliouche (20), Barcola (22), Zaïre-Emery (19), Gusto (21), Doué (18) – is terrifying for opponents.
As the Baku Olympic Stadium emptied into the Caspian night, one thought lingered: if this is France’s second string, what on earth does the first XI look like when everyone is fit?
Les Bleus head to the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer as one of the red-hot favourites. On tonight’s evidence, few would bet against them finally ending 28 years of World Cup hurt.
FAQ: Azerbaijan vs France
Who won Azerbaijan vs France?
France defeated Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku.
Who scored for France?
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maghnes Akliouche scored for France, while Azerbaijan also conceded an own goal.
Who scored Azerbaijan's goal?
Renat Dadashov scored Azerbaijan's early goal in the fourth minute.
What was the final score between Azerbaijan and France?
The final score was Azerbaijan 1-3 France.
Who was the Man of the Match?
Jean-Philippe Mateta was named France's Man of the Match after his influential performance.
Did France finish top of their qualifying group?
Yes. France finished their qualifying campaign at the top of Group D.
Why did France make so many changes?
France had already secured qualification and top spot, allowing Didier Deschamps to rotate his squad and give younger players valuable international experience.
What does the result mean for France?
The victory gave France additional momentum and confidence heading towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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