Skip to content

Champions League round-up: Qarabag make history by qualifying for group stages

FK Qarabag celebrate their achievement
Image: FK Qarabag celebrate their achievement

FK Qarabag became the first team from Azerbaijan to make the Champions League group stages after beating Copenhagen on Wednesday.

They took a one-goal advantage with them to Denmark, but they fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Federico Santander netted.

They looked to have eased their nerves, though, when Dino Ndlovu equalised in the 63rd minute, only for Copenhagen to regain the lead just three minutes later through Andrija Pavlovic.

It set up a tight closing 25 minutes, but Copenhagen could not score again, meaning the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate with Qarabag progressing on away goals and becoming the first team from their country to make the Champions League group stage.

Liverpool secured their place in the Champions League group stages with a thumping 4-2 win over Hoffenheim to progress 6-3 on aggregate.

Sporting Lisbon crushed Steaua Bucharest 5-1 following a goal-less first leg.

Seydou Doumbia put Sporting ahead after 13 minutes, but when Junior Morais equalised seven minutes later there was no indication of the one-sided second period to follow.

Also See:

Steaua subsided during the final 30 minutes, conceding four goals as Sporting cut loose with Marcos Acuna, Gelson Martins, Bas Dost and Rodrigo Battaglia ensuring the Portuguese side powered into the pool draw.

CSKA Moscow, meanwhile, were always in control of their play-off clash against Young Boys at the VEB Arena.

Having won the away leg 1-0, CSKA were rarely troubled by their opponents as goals from Georgi Schennikov and Alan Dzagoev ensured a comfortable passage 3-0 on aggregate.

And the play-off picture was completed in Prague, where Apoel Nicosia arrived with a two-goal advantage from the first leg, and they were able to preserve that comfortable cushion despite Slavia Prague's best efforts as the tie finished 0-0.

Around Sky