Sabah in the 2026/27 Champions League: What are their fixtures? Who is in their squad?
Thursday, August 27, 2026
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Fixtures, squad, key player, coach profile, big summer signing and one to watch – all you need to know about 2026/27 Champions League contenders Sabah.
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Sabah secured a superb comeback against Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the play-offs to secure Champions League football for the first time in the club's short history. Get to know the Azerbaijani team.
At a glance: Sabah
UEFA coefficient ranking: 244
How they qualified: Play-off winners
Last season: Conference League third qualifying round
UEFA coefficient rankings as at end of the 2025/26 season.
What are Sabah's Champions League fixtures and results?
You can keep track of Sabah's Champions League fixtures and results here.
Who is in Sabah's Champions League squad?
Sabah's Champions League squad can be found here.
Coach: Valdas Dambrauskas
The Lithuanian tactician has a remarkable story, having financed a trip to England to pursue his coaching dream by participating in his country's version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'. Since then he has gone on to manage in Latvia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and Hungary before arriving in Azerbaijan in 2025, where he has already made history with a domestic double and Champions League qualification.
Key player: Veljko Simić
Top scorer in Champions League qualifying with an impressive six goals across his eight appearances, Serbian forward Simić has shone at Sabah since joining initially on loan last summer from Sivasspor, a deal which was made permanent in June. The forward also netted 11 times in his side’s triumphant 2025/26 Azerbaijani Premier League campaign and will no doubt relish the opportunity to test himself against some of the best defences in Europe in the league phase.
Big summer signing: Tymoteusz Puchacz
A solid, reliable left-back with 15 senior Poland caps, Puchacz is another, like Simić, who was initially brought in on loan before making a permanent move after impressing. Included in his nation’s EURO 2020 and EURO 2024 squads, and with club experience at the likes of Lech Poznań, Panathinaikos and Holstein Kiel, Puchacz is a vital part of Dambrauskas’ outfit.
One to watch: Joy-Lance Mickels
The only player to outscore Simić with 19 goals in the Azerbaijani Premier League last season, tricky winger Mickels has also played a big part in Sabah’s qualifying success, netting four times and creating an assist. The German-born Rwanda international looks set to become the first player from his country to play in the Champions League proper.
Sabah's 2025/26 season
It was an unforgettable campaign for the Masazir-based club as they won a first domestic league title, finishing nine points clear of nearest challengers Qarabağ, and also retained the Azerbaijani Cup. They failed to qualify for Europe, however, after losing to Levski Sofia in the Conference League third qualifying round.
What is Sabah's best Champions League finish?
This will be Sabah's first appearance in the Champions League proper.
Did you know?
Sabah were only formed in 2017, with the Owls qualifying for the Champions League in just their ninth year of existence.