Champions Sabah win their first two European ties — but Neftçi and Zirə stumble
As champions, Sabah entered the Champions Path first qualifying round — their first appearance in the competition.
As champions, Sabah entered the Champions Path first qualifying round — their first appearance in the competition. They beat Welsh champions The New Saints 2-0 at the Bank Respublika Arena on 7 July and 2-1 in Oswestry a week later, going through 4-1 on aggregate.
In the second qualifying round they drew KuPS Kuopio of Finland and won the home leg 1-0 on 21 July, the goal arriving on the stroke of half-time. The return in Kuopio is on 28 July; elimination there would drop Sabah into the Europa League third qualifying round rather than ending their season.
Elsewhere the news was worse. Neftçi lost 4-2 at home to Dinamo Minsk in the Conference League second qualifying round on 22 July — Emin Mahmudov scored inside two minutes and an own goal made it 2-0 before Minsk scored four — and Zirə lost 1-0 away to Paide of Estonia on 23 July, with the return at home on 30 July.