Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK have made history once again, becoming the country’s only club to qualify twice for the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Playing at Baku’s Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Qarabağ FK overcame a determined Ferencváros side. The visitors opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Lenny Joseph found the net following a VAR-reviewed play. Qarabağ FK responded in the 25th, with Leandro Andrade levelling the match with a left-footed strike from inside the box.
Abdellah Zoubir gave Qarabağ FK the lead just before half-time, scoring in added time after a well-timed assist from Andrade. In the second half, Barnabás Varga equalised from the penalty spot in the 55th minute, before Alex Tóth added a third for Ferencváros with a free-kick in the 81st. Despite the 3-2 loss on the night, the Horsemen progressed 5-4 on aggregate.
Qarabağ FK’s journey to the group stage has been dominant. They beat Shelbourne 4-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round (3-0 away, 1-0 home) and thrashed Shkëndija 6-1 in the third (1-0 away, 5-1 home). With five wins from six games, they have scored 15 goals and conceded just five.
This is Qarabağ FK’s first appearance in the Champions League group stage since 2017/18, when they held Atlético de Madrid to two draws but finished fourth in their section. They remain the only Azerbaijani club to have ever reached this level.
Ferencváros, aiming for a third group stage appearance, had defeated Noah and Ludogorets in earlier qualifying rounds but fell short in Baku. Varga finishes the qualifying campaign with five goals in five matches, but his side now drop out of the competition.
Qarabağ FK represent the city of Aghdam, a region that saw decades of displacement and destruction. Although based in Baku for home matches, the club has become a powerful symbol of Azerbaijani resilience.
Their qualification for Europe’s top competition is seen not only as a sporting milestone but also a moment of national pride. Their return to the Champions League is being hailed by fans as a significant step forward for football in the country.
The bodies of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and members of his household killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids were laid to...
At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey buil...
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destructio...
Newcastle United secured a 3–2 victory over Qarabağ FK in the return leg of the UEFA Champions League play-offs at St James’ Park.
Qarabağ FK are facing Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League play-off round on Wednesday evening in Baku, in what will be the first UEFA competition meeting between the two clubs.
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase match. Despite the setback, Qarabağ secured a play-off spot, with results elsewhere going in the Azerbaijani champions’ favour on the final matchday.
Qarabağ claimed a late 3–2 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, scoring deep into stoppage time to secure a dramatic home win in Baku.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph (124 mph), as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
This is the third of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
This is the second of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The bodies of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and members of his household killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids were laid to rest in Mashhad on Thursday as thousands of mourners demanded vengeance.
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza to mourn Mohammad al-Waheidi, an aid worker remembered for bringing rare moments of happiness to families displaced by war by organising public screenings of World Cup matches.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment