"Sabah" with Umarali Rakhmonaliev achieved its first victory in the Champions League
Azerbaijan's Sabah, featuring Uzbekistan national team midfielder Umarali Rakhmonaliev, defeated Slavia Prague 2-0 in the second round of the UEFA Champions League main stage. For the Baku-based club, this is their first victory in the main stage of the tournament.
Sabah with Umarali Rakhmonaliev Achieves First Victory in Champions League
Azerbaijani football club Sabah defeated Czech Slavia 2-0 in the second round of the main stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Uzbekistan national team midfielder Umarali Rakhmonaliev took to the pitch for the Azerbaijani team.
In the first half, the hosts put the ball into the net, but Kaheem Parris's goal was disallowed after a VAR review due to offside.
Slavia also created several dangerous chances, but Sabah goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov kept a clean sheet. The teams went into the break with the score at 0-0.
In the 49th minute, Sabah opened the scoring. Croatian midfielder Hrvoje Lepinjica provided a pass from the left flank, after which Parris hit the target.
At the end of the match, in the 88th minute, Joy-Lance Mickels doubled the hosts' lead. After Slavia goalkeeper Marković made an unsuccessful run outside the penalty area, the Sabah player intercepted the ball and scored from long range into an empty net.
According to ESPN, Uzbekistan national team midfielder Umarali Rakhmonaliev had 58 touches of the ball in the match against Slavia Prague (2-0) and took two shots, both on target. His expected goals (xG) figure was 0.29, and expected assists (xA) was 0.47.
In addition, the Uzbek player made five interceptions and took part in eight duels. He did not record any direct goal contributions (goals or assists).
On October 13, eight more matches of the second round of the main stage of the UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 season took place.
The remaining nine fixtures of the second round are scheduled for October 14.
As a reminder, Sabah qualified for the main stage of the Champions League for the first time in August 2026, overcoming four qualification rounds.
In the second leg of the qualification play-offs, the Azerbaijani club beat Israeli APOEL 5-2, and 6-4 on aggregate. Rakhmonaliev scored one of Sabah's goals in the second leg.
The midfielder has been playing for Sabah since January 2025. He initially joined on loan from Rubin Kazan, and the transfer became permanent in January 2026.
In the first round of the main stage of the Champions League, Sabah lost to English Manchester United.
The Azerbaijani club will play its next tournament match on October 20 against Borussia Dortmund.