BAKU — Azerbaijan’s reigning champions Qarabağ have stormed into the UEFA Champions League play-off stage after a resounding 5–1 victory over North Macedonia’s Shkëndija in the third qualifying round.
The match at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium got off to a surprising start when Fabrice Tamba put the visitors ahead in the 10th minute. But the lead lasted just five minutes — Shkëndija’s Klisman Sake inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, leveling the score.
From that point on, it was all Qarabağ. Goals from Kadi Borges (18’), Nariman Akhundzade (33’), Marko Janković (35’), and Leandro Andrade (59’) sealed a dominant performance for Gurban Gurbanov’s side.
Qarabağ had already taken a 1–0 advantage from the first leg in Skopje, meaning a 6–1 aggregate score comfortably booked their place in the play-off round.
Next, they will face the winner of the Ludogorets (Bulgaria) vs. Ferencváros (Hungary) tie for a spot in the Champions League group stage. Regardless of that result, Qarabağ are now guaranteed at least a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage.
