Manchester United will face unfamiliar opposition in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League when they take on Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK.
Based in Masazir, just outside the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Sabah FK are one of the country’s younger professional clubs. They were founded in 2017 and have risen rapidly through Azerbaijani football, reaching the Premier League in the 2018-19 season.
Known by the nickname “The Owls”, Sabah play their home matches at the Bank Respublika Arena, which has a capacity of around 9,000.
The club enjoyed its biggest domestic success last season, winning the 2025-26 Azerbaijan Premier League title. They finished top of the 12-team league with 78 points from 33 matches, recording 24 wins, six draws and only three defeats.
Their European journey has also accelerated in recent seasons. Sabah made their European debut in the 2023-24 Conference League and have since progressed through qualifying rounds in each campaign.
Sabah’s route to the Champions League
Sabah began their 2026-27 Champions League campaign in the first qualifying round against Welsh champions The New Saints. They won the tie 4-1 on aggregate.
They then defeated Finland’s KuPS 3-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round before producing an impressive result against Danish side Aarhus, winning 5-2 over two legs.
Their final hurdle was Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Sabah won the first leg 5-2 after extra time and progressed despite losing the second leg 2-1, completing a 6-4 aggregate victory.
That victory secured their place in the Champions League league phase for the first time and set up a meeting with Manchester United.
Who are Sabah’s key players?
One of the players to watch is Joy-Lance Mickels, the Germany-born forward who represents Rwanda internationally. Mickels was Sabah’s leading scorer during their 2025-26 title-winning campaign, scoring 19 league goals.
Sabah’s squad has a mixture of Azerbaijani players and overseas talent, reflecting the club’s rapid development since its foundation.
For Manchester United, the trip to Azerbaijan will provide a very different challenge from the club’s usual European encounters. Sabah have already shown during their qualifying campaign that they cannot be taken lightly.
The meeting with United will be one of the biggest matches in the young club’s history — and a major opportunity for Sabah to put themselves on the European football map.
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