The extended format of the Champions League has opened the door for clubs who have never played in the competition before. This season, four teams have qualified for the first time, among which is Sabah FK.
This little-known club from Baku scripted history back home with their first ever Azerbaijan Premier League trophy last season which gave them a chance to play in Europe's premier club competition, although not directly.
The road to Champions League
The Owls began their journey right from the first qualifying round and cruised through every stage with sheer grit, character and determination to seal a place at a major European tournament for the first time in their history, erasing years of heartbreaks.
After beating Welsh side The New Saints 4-1 on aggregate in the first round, Sabah saw off Finland's KuPS 3-0 in the next before a convincing 5-2 win over Danish side Aarhus. Their progression faced a serious challenge in the playoffs when Israeli outfit Hapoel Be'er Sheva beat them 2-1 in the first leg, but Sabah turned the tie around with a spectacular 5-2 win in the return and officially qualified for their maiden Champions League appearance.
Previously, the side had suffered three exits from the third qualifying round of the Conference League, in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Last year, they had also bowed out from the first qualifying round of the Europa League after the defeat by Celje.
Second team from Azerbaijan in Champions League
Founded as recently as 2017, Sabah don't have much of a history but have been making waves with their meteoric rise in recent times, achieving a runners-up finish in the league in the 2022-23 season before clinching their first official silverware in 2024 with the Azerbaijan Cup triumph.
The Champions League, however, is the culmination of that upward trajectory. Sabah FK are now just the second team from Azerbaijan to ever reach the first round of the competition, after Qarabag scripted history by qualifying for the group stages of the 2017-18 season.
What's been the result so far?
So far, it's been a mixed bag for Sabah FK in the Champions League. Manchester United handed them a baptism by fire in their first match with a convincing 4-0 victory at Old Trafford, but the Owls recovered to beat Slavia Praha 2-0 in their next.
Tomorrow would be another stern test of their mettle against another regular in the competition as Borussia Dortmund visit Baku.
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