Azerbaijani club Sabah qualifies for Champions League after eliminating Israeli opponent

Azerbaijani football club Sabah has secured a historic qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage after defeating Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva on aggregate. Founded in 2017, the club was trailing in the second leg until substitute Tellur Mutallimov scored an equalizer in stoppage time, forcing the match into extra time. During the additional period, Sabah capitalized on their momentum and the dismissal of two Hapoel players, Gabriel Deblé and Eliel Peretz, to score two more goals. The match ended 5-2, resulting in a 6-4 aggregate victory. The Champions League group stage will feature 36 teams, with the draw scheduled for Thursday in Monaco. Each team is set to play eight matches against different opponents between September 8, 2026, and January 27, 2027.