Azerbaijani club Sabah FC will play in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time after a stunning win against Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva 5-2 in their playoff match, while Celtic squandered a four-goal lead against Austria’s LASK in the first set of playoff fixtures on Tuesday, August 25.
Norwegians Bodo/Glimt, which featured in the competition for the first time last year, has also advanced after easing through against NEC Nijmegen.
Sabah, which was created in 2017, was minutes from elimination after losing the first leg 2-1 with the score tied at 2-2 in injury time of the second leg, but substitute Tellur Mutallimov scored in stoppage time to force an extra 30 minutes. It then added two more goals to secure a 5-2 victory on the night and 6-4 win on aggregate.
Scottish champion Celtic had seemed all but through after thrashing LASK 3-0 in the first leg in Glasgow, and its position only seemed stronger after Callum McGregor extended the lead to four in 21st minute.
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However, LASK pulled one back before the break, and a calamitous second-half collapse allowed it to force extra-time. Samuel Adeniran then scored his second of the match in the 110th minute to send Celtic into the Europa League.
Bodo/Glimt won the first leg against its Dutch opponent 3-1, and it cruised through with a comfortable victory in the second leg.
The remaining playoff matches will take place on Wednesday, August 26.
Published on Aug 26, 2026