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.
Iranian President Pezeshkian has confirmed the killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib calling it a "cowardly assassination", foll...
Festive events across Azerbaijan are bringing the spirit of Novruz to life, with the Gala State Historical and Ethnographic Reserve hosting its ann...
One person has died after a cable car cabin at the Titlis ski resort in central Switzerland plunged down a snow...
Pakistani authorities have denied claims by the Afghan government that a hospital was targeted, insisting that its airstrikes were aimed solely at ...
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Wednesday that it has identified five new cases of meningococcal disease in Kent, bringing the total ...
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.
Morocco has been declared winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and Senegal stripped of their title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
One person has died after a cable car cabin at the Titlis ski resort in central Switzerland plunged down a snow-covered mountainside on Wednesday (18 March) amid strong winds.
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Iranian President Pezeshkian has confirmed the killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib calling it a "cowardly assassination", following reports that Israel carried out an overnight strike.
The real power of the Strait of Hormuz lies not in closing it, but in the threat of closure.
Festive events across Azerbaijan are bringing the spirit of Novruz to life, with the Gala State Historical and Ethnographic Reserve hosting its annual “Spring Fortress” celebration. Visitors are immersed in a historic setting, surrounded by colourful decorations and live performances.
Pakistani authorities have denied claims by the Afghan government that a hospital was targeted, insisting that its airstrikes were aimed solely at military and terrorist sites in and around Kabul.
Iran’s intelligence chief, Esmail Khatib, has been killed in an Israeli missile strike carried out overnight, according to Iranian state media. He was a longstanding figure within Iran’s tightly controlled leadership.
Georgia is in national mourning following the death of Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, who has died at the age of 93. His passing marks the end of a nearly 50-year era during which he became one of the most influential spiritual and public figures in the country’s modern history.
As the U.S.–Israel war with Iran enters its third week, disruption is spreading well beyond the battlefield. Analysts say the conflict is already constraining fertiliser supplies, driving up prices and increasing the risk of food shortages, particularly in developing economies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment