Azerbaijan 1-3 France: Mateta & Akliouche score in comfortable victory

France ended their World Cup qualification campaign with a flourish, coming from behind to beat Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku.

Match Report

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his second goal in as many starts for France as Didier Deschamps' men came through an early scare to beat Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku.

There was nothing on the line in France's final outing in 2026 World Cup qualifying after Thursday's 4-0 victory over Ukraine sealed their spot at next year's tournament.

Les Bleus named a much-changed team at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium, with Kylian Mbappe among their absentees after he withdrew from the squad with an ankle injury.

And Azerbaijan were dreaming of a famous win when Renat Dadashov got across the front post to divert Rahman Dasdamirov's left-wing cross home in the fourth minute.

The hosts continued to take the game to France, but the visitors got level in the 17th minute as Mateta met Malo Gusto's dinked cross with a close-range header.

France had two goals disallowed for handball in the build-up during the first half, with  Christopher Nkunku and Khephren Thuram the players to be denied.

However, they still entered half-time with a two-goal cushion as Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche got off the mark in international football with a tap-in, and Azerbaijan goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev sent a miscued punch into his own net under pressure from Thuram.

There was less goalmouth action in the second half as France exerted total control, with Mateta spurning a chance for his first international brace and Thuram also firing over.

France finish top of Group D in the UEFA qualification process with 16 points from six games, six clear of Ukraine, who leapfrogged Iceland with a 2-0 win elsewhere on Sunday.

Data Debrief: Mateta's fast start

Mateta now has two goals in his first three senior international caps, with his first strike in France colours coming when he started October's chaotic 2-2 draw with Iceland.

He is the first player to score on his first two starts for Les Bleus since May 2004, when Louis Saha did so.

After Azerbaijan's fast start, France were ultimately comfortable, firing off 17 shots compared to two for the hosts and winning the expected goals (xG) battle 2.72 to 0.15.

Line-ups

Azerbaijan XI: Emin Mahmudov, Elvin Badalov, Bahlul Mustafazada, Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev, Qismat Aliyev, Anton Kryvotsiuk, Dadaşov, Rahman Dashdamirov, Abdulakh Khaybulayev, Ceyhun Nuriyev, Khayal Aliyev

Subs: Salahat Agayev, Badavi Hüseynov, Abbas Hüseynov, Sabuhi Abdullazada, Aydyn Bayramov, Rüfat Abdullazada, Anatoliy Nuriyev, Calal Hüseynov, Nariman Akhundzada, Rüfat Abbasov, Mustafa Ahmadzada

France XI: Lucas, Theo, Nkunku, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Konate, Khéphren Thuram, Lucas Chevalier, Hugo Ekitiké, Gusto, Zaire-Emery, Maghnes Akliouche

Subs: Digne, Thauvin, Brice Samba, Kante, Maignan, Upamecano, Kounde, Saliba, Cherki, Olise, Barcola