Qarabağ FK Advances to Champions League Play-Offs After Historic Win in Bulgaria

Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK football club have advanced to the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League after securing a brilliant victory over Ludogorets of Bulgaria.

On Tuesday, in the third qualification match in the Bulgarian city of Razgrad, Qarabağ FK smashed Ludogorets 7:2, scoring four goals in the additional 30 minutes of the game.

The 90 minutes of the tie’s second leg ended with a 3-2 victory for Qarabağ FK. Eventually, the aggregate score over the two matches was tied at 4-4, meaning the tie would go into extra time. In the tie’s first match in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on August 6, Ludogorets won 2-1.

The goals of the Azerbaijani champions were scored by Juninho, Yassine Benzia (2 goals), Patrick Andrade (2 goals), Toral Bayramov, and Redon Xhixha.

"Even after the defeat in Baku, I wasn’t hopeless. We’ve been through many such games before. My players deserve nothing but praise. I congratulate our fans and our Azerbaijan. Games like this make us stronger. It was like a thriller. Truly, this was my 'Qarabağ,' the Qarabağ of Azerbaijan," Qarabağ FK’s manager Gurban Gurbanov told media after the game.

In the play-offs, Qarabağ FK will square off against Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb. The first game of the tie will take place in Croatia on August 20. The Azerbaijani champions will host Dinamo Zagreb in Baku on August 28.

Gurbanov said although he has no information about Dinamo Zagreb, they will try to get to know the opponent better before facing them.

“We must quickly forget the joy of this game and prepare for the next opponent. The only issue might be our injured players causing us problems. I believe that my players will be ready by the time of that game. I would very much like this team to play in the Champions League group stage,” he stated.

Known as “The Stallions,” Qarabağ FK has participated in all three major European club competitions.

During the 2014-15 season, the club secured a place in the UEFA Europa League, marking a significant milestone for both the club and Azerbaijani football. In 2017, Qarabağ FK became the first football club from Azerbaijan to advance to the Champions League group stage. In the 2023-24 season, Qarabağ FK advanced to the Europa League Round of 16, the first time in Azerbaijan’s football history.