«Sabax» secured a spot in the main stage of the European Champions League

The reigning champion of Azerbaijan, Sabah club, has successfully passed through the qualifying and play-off stages of the UEFA Champions League and secured a place in the main group stage of Europe’s most prestigious club competition. This is reported by One.uz.

According to the draw results for the 2026/2027 season, our compatriot Umarali Rahmonaliyev’s team is set to face some of Europe’s strongest clubs. This outcome marks a significant milestone in the club’s history and demonstrates the readiness of Azerbaijani football at a young level to fully participate in European tournaments.

Subheading: Igor Ponomaryov’s Warrior Statement
Member of the club’s supervisory board, Igor Ponomaryov, commented on the draw results, stating that the team has landed in a true “group of death” in the UCL and will fight until the end. He said, “We will not simply surrender,” acknowledging the strength of their opponents but viewing the group as an opportunity to strengthen their squad’s capabilities.

Ponomaryov referenced Sweden’s successful exit from the “group of death” at the 2006 World Cup as an example, indicating that his team must follow a similar path. He described the arrival of major clubs in Azerbaijan as a fantastic event and urged the team to fight with all their strength on the pitch.

Subheading: Sabah’s UCL Schedule and Umarali Rahmonaliyev’s Statistics
Based on the draw, the Azerbaijani club will face European giants such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Villarreal, and Viking in away matches. In Baku, fixtures are scheduled against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and Slavia Prague.

Each of these encounters will be a tactical and physical test. Umarali Rahmonaliyev participated in all 8 matches during the qualifying and play-off stages, starting every game and achieving 100% availability.

Operating reliably in midfield, he scored 1 goal and provided 1 assist, making a significant contribution to the team’s advancement to the main group. This result highlights the high level of participation by the young Uzbek footballer in European youth-level tournaments.

Source: One.uz