Sabah FK, the Azerbaijani club taking on Barcelona and Arsenal

The historic shock: Sabah FK, an Azerbaijani club founded in 2017, will face Barcelona, Arsenal, and Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League group stage. A first for this club from Masazir, 20 miles northwest of Baku, which has etched its name in golden letters this season.

Sabah FK, nicknamed "The Owls," has completed an exceptional journey to reach European football's elite. Founded on September 8, 2017, the club did not even exist a decade ago. Yet, it secured the Azerbaijani league and cup double last season, breaking Qarabağ's dominance—the only other Azerbaijani club to reach the Champions League group stage. Their European adventure began with a stunning feat: a 6-4 aggregate victory over Hapoel Beer-Sheva, snatched in stoppage time of the second leg. Just one Azerbaijani fan made the trip to Romania to cheer them on, offering a standing ovation as the players arrived at their hotel.

A meteoric rise and logistical challenges

Sabah FK’s path to the Champions League has been as rapid as it is unexpected. The club joined the Azerbaijani second division in 2017-18, before being promoted to the top flight after a single season, thanks to the absence of licenses for the top four teams. Since then, progress has been meteoric. However, logistical challenges remain significant: trips to Europe, often costly and complex from Azerbaijan, limit fan support abroad. Despite this, Sabah has established itself as an emerging force in Azerbaijani football. The club also made history by becoming the first team to feature pink as its primary color in the Champions League group stage. The pink, symbolic of their hometown of Masazir, is inspired by the distinctive hue of the local lake. Their predominantly black kit, accented with pink, reflects this unique identity.

Valdas Dambrauskas, the coach who came from television commentary

At the helm of Sabah FK, Valdas Dambrauskas has become the first Lithuanian to lead a club into the UEFA Champions League group stage. His journey is nothing if not unconventional: a former third-division player, he hung up his boots at 23 to embark on a coaching career. His life changed in 2002 when he won 4,000 litas (around $1,300) on the Lithuanian show *Šeši nuliai – milijonas*, the local version of *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?*. With that money, he moved to London to earn his coaching qualifications while taking on various odd jobs. Dambrauskas climbed the ranks from England’s ninth tier with Kingsbury London Tigers before securing a quadruple in Lithuania with FK Žalgiris. He then went on to win titles in Bulgaria with Ludogorets, in Latvia with RFS, and in Croatia with Hajduk Split before joining Sabah in 2025. An unconventional path that underscores his determination and adaptability. ###

A Journey Filled with Challenges

Sabah FK has been the underdog at every stage of their European campaign. Unseeded, they successively eliminated Welsh side The New Saints, Finland’s KuPS, Denmark’s AGF Aarhus, and Israel’s Hapoel Beer-Sheva. The decisive match against the latter was a real thriller: a 94th-minute goal allowed the Azerbaijanis to force extra time, before scoring twice late in the game to win 6-4 on aggregate. Only six clubs before them had managed to overcome four rounds to reach the Champions League group stage, including Sheriff Tiraspol, Malmö FF, and Red Star Belgrade. Facing them are three giants: Barcelona, Arsenal, and Dortmund. Three opponents who will not soon forget this small Azerbaijani club, which in just a few seasons has become a symbol of football’s rise beyond the beaten path. A maiden participation that promises unforgettable memories.