Valdas Dambrauskas's Sabah learns UEFA Champions League opponents

Valdas Dambrauskas has made history as the first Lithuanian coach whose team will compete in the UEFA Champions League main stage, with his club Baku 'Sabah' discovering their formidable opponents following the draw in Monaco.

Sabah secured their historic qualification by overcoming Beer Sheva 'Hapoel' 5:2 on aggregate in a dramatic final qualifying round. This marks a significant achievement for the Azerbaijani club and for Dambrauskas, who now leads a team into Europe's premier club competition.

The expanded 36-team Champions League format means Sabah will play eight matches in the group stage: four at home and four away. Their confirmed opponents include some of Europe's most prestigious clubs. Sabah is set to host Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, while traveling to face Arsenal and Manchester United.

Group stage matches are scheduled to begin between September 8-10, with the final round concluding on January 27. The top eight teams will advance directly to the Round of 16, while teams finishing between 9th and 24th place will compete in knockout playoffs for the remaining spots. The Champions League final for the 2026-2027 season is slated to be held in Madrid on June 5, with Paris Saint-Germain entering the competition as the defending champions.