Umarali Rahmonaliyev and Abduqodir Husanov will play in the Champions League
Good news continues for fans of Uzbek football. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Our talented defender, Abdukodir Husanov, had previously criticized the draw for the group stage of the new season of the Champions League, considered the most influential club tournament in Europe. Now, it has been officially confirmed that another one of our compatriots, Umarali Rahmonaliyev, will also participate in this prestigious tournament on the continent.
Our skilled midfielder plays for Sabah club from Azerbaijan, which won the national championship in the current season and earned the right to compete in the influential tournament draw. Unlike Husanov, Rahmonaliyev and his team will begin their European journey much earlier.
Taking into account Azerbaijan's domestic league ranking in continental standings, Sabah club is forced to start from the very first qualifying round. In the draw, they will receive an opponent from the pot of unseeded teams, which includes Baku club.
At the same time, the names of thirteen out of fourteen possible opponents for Azerbaijan's new champions have already been revealed. From the list of seeded teams, Sabah may face Shamrock Rovers from Ireland, KuPS from Finland, Drita from Kosovo, Lincoln from Gibraltar, and Borac from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Additionally, the list includes Vikingur from Iceland, Qayrat from Kazakhstan, Universitatea from Romania, Larne from Northern Ireland, Riga from Latvia, Klaksvik from the Faroe Islands, Flora from Estonia, and Petrocub from Moldova. The draw ceremony for the first qualifying round of the Champions League will take place on June 18 this year.
The initial matches are scheduled for July 7–8 and July 14–15. According to One.uz, the club defending the honor of the capital city Baku was founded in 2007 and has been a stable participant in Azerbaijan's top division since 2008.
The team finished the 2023 season with silver medals, followed by bronze the next year. The upcoming season turned into a true golden era for Sabah.
The club won the national championship for the first time in its history. Moreover, the team consecutively won the Azerbaijan Cup, delighting their loyal fans with a double triumph.
In fact, Umarali Rahmonaliyev, a graduate of the Bunyodkor football academy, moved from Tashkent club to Russia's Rubin in 2023. After struggling to secure a regular place in Kazan's starting lineup, our talented player was initially loaned to Sabah, and later the club fully acquired his rights.
This trust has been justified by our young footballer at the highest level. In the current season, he has appeared in over thirty matches in both the Azerbaijani championship and cup competitions, contributing significantly to his team's victories.
Now, our compatriot has the opportunity to showcase his talent on the biggest football stages in Europe.
