Who are they? Sabah's future rivals in the Champions League

The return to club football after the break for national team matches will be marked not only by domestic championships, but also by European cup clashes.

Not long ago, Baku's Sabah began its historic run in the Champions League in less than the best way, losing its opening match to Manchester United. However, the Azerbaijani club still has seven matches ahead of it, which means there is still time to turn the situation around. Moreover, the calendar has prepared meetings with some of Europe's most famous clubs for Sabah. In this article we will look at who the team's next opponents will be and what to expect from these matches.

SLAVIA (PRAGUE)

In the Champions League, the Czech club's start was less successful than its play in the national championship: in the first round Slavia lost at home to Lens 2:3. What is more, the team conceded two goals in stoppage time, having played almost the entire second half a man down. After eight rounds of the Czech championship, the Prague club has not suffered a single defeat — six wins and two draws, with a goal difference of 23:5. In the last round, Viktoria (Plzen), well known to Azerbaijani fans, was beaten. Slavia was trailing, but managed first to equalize and then to score the winning goal in the 101st minute.

JINDRICH TRPISOVSKY

HEAD COACH OF FC SLAVIA

"What led us to victory was mentality, the desire not to lose and a fantastic atmosphere. Today mentality helped us more than footballing skill."

After the break for national team matches, the Czech team will travel to Baku with the aim of picking up its first points in the tournament.

BORUSSIA (DORTMUND)

Borussia Dortmund is already showing a one hundred percent result at the start of the season, having won all four matches in the Bundesliga, where it leads with 12 points. Stuttgart was beaten by a minimal score, three unanswered goals were scored against Paderborn and two against Hamburg. Hoffenheim was beaten 3:2, and it was with exactly that result that the "bumblebees" also won their opening Champions League match against Villarreal. The "yellow submarine" put up a real fight in Dortmund against Niko Kovac's team. Before the match against Sabah, which will take place in Baku on October 20, the Dortmund side will play three more games, two of which will be in the German championship. Exactly these clashes will show what shape they will be in ahead of the Baku match, whether they will remain among the Bundesliga leaders, and whether they will win their second Champions League match. Niko Kovac has a decent squad. The roster includes Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, Jobe Bellingham, Nico Schlotterbeck, Gregor Kobel, as well as young players such as Ethan Nwaneri and Joey Verman. A squad that could well have a brilliant season and has already begun to do so. That is why Sabah needs to approach this match very carefully in order to somehow find weak points in this side.

VIKING

This is perhaps one of Sabah's most mysterious opponents this season. It is a club from the city of Stavanger, one of the oldest and best-known clubs in Norway. Despite the fact that on paper this is the least renowned opponent, a trip to Norway can always be difficult. First of all, in this Scandinavian country the national championship is held under a spring-autumn system. The club is more match-ready, as it has played more official matches recently, but on the other hand, its players may be a little tired. Although, in the Norwegian championship, with 9 rounds remaining, there is a dual rule in the form of two Champions League participants. Both Viking and Bodo/Glimt have collected 50 points and in the remaining rounds must decide who will take the "gold." In the Champions League, both lost, and moreover, both to German clubs. And if Bodo/Glimt conceded five unanswered goals to Bayern, then Viking played better, although the opponent was less formidable. Away, the team lost to Stuttgart 1:3. The match statistics were entirely in favor of the hosts, but the Scandinavians fought back too. They equalized right after conceding in the first half. And if it had not been for Demirovic's hat-trick, they might perhaps have taken points away from Germany. The team uses two systems. Sometimes it plays with three forwards, and at times 4-4-2. The match against Sabah will take place on November 5. A negative factor for the "Owls" here could be the cold weather conditions. After all, this is Norway.

BARCELONA

This is perhaps the main attraction for Azerbaijani fans this season, and not only this season — possibly in history. The Catalans' play is currently mesmerizing. Raphinha has regained his former form, and has even become stronger. Flick's system works flawlessly. The team leaves no stone unturned from its opponents, whether it is the championship or the start of the Champions League. Barca is currently in the best form, unlike its main rival — Real. For Sabah, much will depend on which of the leaders comes to Baku, and which ones Flick will save. Although, this will be the fifth round. Even if the Catalans have 12 points by that moment, they may quite likely bring their main squad here. Even this fact will not frighten the "owls," but on the contrary, will become additional motivation for them. You must agree, the chance to take points off Barcelona in the Champions League does not come along every day.

VILLARREAL

The "yellow submarine," which we have already mentioned today. It was this Spanish club that put up a real fight away at Borussia Dortmund, losing by a one-goal margin. In the last two La Liga matches before the break for national team games, the team beat Levante and Malaga; however, before that there was an unsuccessful run of four consecutive defeats, one of which came at the start of the Champions League. Ninth place in the championship is not the limit. Inigo Perez's charges can play even better. It is not yet clear what position the team will occupy in the Champions League by the match against Sabah. On October 10, Villarreal played against the Royal Club, and in the Champions League Napoli, Liverpool, PSG and Slavia are still awaiting them; this calendar will also include a match against Barcelona and against several less strong clubs. These games will show what physical shape the "submarine" will be in for the game against Valdas Dambrauskas's team. There is still quite a decent amount of time before it (the game will take place on December 8).

NAPOLI

Sabah's opponents in the Champions League in 2027 played against each other at the start of the tournament. Napoli narrowly lost at home to Arsenal. I would like to begin, following the calendar, with the Neapolitans. The main impression of the start of the season is that the team is capable of playing at a high quality, but so far does not maintain that level from match to match. A confident start, good conversion of chances, and then problems against an opponent's organized play. Ninth place in Serie A with seven points after five rounds — you must agree, not the best result. However, Massimiliano Allegri is a specialist in his field. Perhaps the team will be able to correct itself and show better consistency by winter. In any case, this is a very dangerous opponent for the Baku side, even at the Baku Olympic Stadium. Azerbaijani representatives have already faced this team in the past season. Back then, in the autumn, it was Agdam's Qarabag, which lost in Italy with a score of 0:2.

ARSENAL

Playing against representatives of the Foggy Albion in the Champions League has already become quite a customary matter for Azerbaijani clubs. In the 2025-2026 season, Qarabag faced three English teams at once (Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle). Sabah began its journey in Europe's main club tournament with an away match against Manchester United, and will finish it with a clash against the reigning champions of England. The match against Brighton marked the first loss of points for the "gunners" in the domestic championship. What their rivalry with the "citizens" will be like by the beginning of 2027 time will tell, so it is still too early to judge now.

This season Sabah will have to test itself against opponents of the very highest level. Each of these matches will become a separate story — with different styles, atmospheres and challenges. But it is precisely in such meetings that the most brilliant European evenings are born. It remains to wait and find out how far Sabah will be able to go in its Champions League campaign.

EMIN AKHMEDOV