Sabah, featuring Umarali Rahmonaliyev, drawn into Champions League 'Group of Death'!
The reigning Azerbaijani champion, Sabah, has successfully navigated the Champions League qualifying and play-off rounds to secure a spot in the main league phase of the most prestigious European club tournament. Following the 2026/2027 season draw, our compatriot Umarali Rahmonaliyev's team is set to face some of the world's most powerful giants.
Igor Ponomaryov, a member of the club's Supervisory Board, commented on the draw results, stating that the team has landed in a true Champions League 'Group of Death' and will fight until the end.
“We won't just give up”: Ponomaryov's defiant statement
Igor Ponomaryov shared his thoughts on the intense upcoming matches and the strength of their opponents:
“Group of Death” test: “It can be said that we have fallen into a 'Group of Death'; our opponents are extremely strong. However, this enhances our reputation — to play at this level, we must develop even further.”
A grand football festival in Baku: “The arrival of such great teams in Azerbaijan is a wonderful event. We will not just surrender and hand out points; we will fight with all our strength on the pitch.”
The Swedish phenomenon and a lesson: “I don't forget how Sweden successfully emerged from a 'Group of Death' in the 2006 World Cup. We will also strive for the highest possible result. Playing against such teams is a huge school and a great pleasure for the players.”
Sabah's Champions League schedule: Away trips and clashes in Baku
According to the draw, the Azerbaijani club faces the following key fixtures:
Terrifying away games:
“Manchester United” (England);
“Arsenal” (England);
“Villarreal” (Spain);
“Viking” (Norway).
Giants hosted in Baku:
“Barcelona” (Spain);
“Borussia Dortmund” (Germany);
“Napoli” (Italy);
“Slavia Prague” (Czech Republic).
Umarali Rahmonaliyev's brilliant Champions League statistics
The 23-year-old midfielder of the Uzbekistan national team was one of the main architects of this historic result:
100% participation: Rahmonaliyev started in the starting lineup in all 8 matches of the qualifying and play-off rounds;
Productivity: Our compatriot performed reliably in the center of the pitch, recording 1 goal and 1 assist to his name, contributing significantly to his team's qualification for the main group stage.
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