Sabah vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Azeri champions Sabah continue their league phase campaign in the UEFA Champions League with the visit of Borussia Dortmund to Baku.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Sabah preview: Surprise win
Sabah head into this one on the back of a surprise 2-0 defeat of Slavia Prague in Baku last week, courtesy of second half goals scored by Kaheem Parris and Joy-Lance Mickels, having began their campaign with a 4-0 loss to Manchester United.
There will be a feeling that Sabah, who pipped Qarabag to end their dominance at the top of Azeri football last season, could well emulate their compatriots, who reached the knockout play-off round of this competition last season.
Borussia Dortmund preview: Inconsistent Dortmund
Having started their UEFA Champions League season with an entertaining 3-2 victory against Villarreal last month, Borussia Dortmund succumbed to a slender 1-0 loss in the Arctic Circle against Bodo/Glimt last week.
The Yellow-Blacks, under the management of Niko Kovac, have since gone on to sandwich that game with a goalless draw against Union Berlin after a 2-2 draw at home to Werder Bremen after the international break.
Sabah team news: Solvet fit
Steve Solvet had been a doubt for Sabah before their game against Slavia last week but he instead started and is once again fit here. They do remain without Khayal Aliyev.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pokatilov; Zedadka, Solvet, McCarthy, Puchacz; Rakhmonaliyev, Lepinjica; Parris, Du Queiroz, Simic; Mickels
Unavailable: Aliyov (Injured)
Questionable:
Borussia Dortmund team news: Karetsas a doubt
Konstantinos Karetsas suffered an ankle injury at the weekend and so he is now a doubt for this one with his compatriot and fellow summer signing Giannis Konstantelias remaining sidelined alongside Emre Can.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Gadou, Anton, Bensebaini; Svensson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Beier; Sabitzer, Nwaneri; Guirassy
Unavailable: Can (Injured), Konstantelias (Injured), Lerma (Injured)
Questionable: Karetsas (Injured)
Sabah vs Borussia Dortmund prediction
Borussia Dortmund had shown over the last couple of years that they were developing into a more serious outfit. However, their inconsistency and frustrating inability to just fall short in key moments remains there. This is a game whereby Sabah may be confident of attacking an often frail visiting back-line and that should produce some entertainment for the neutral but Dortmund remain firm favourites in Azerbaijan.
Sabah vs Borussia Dortmund Tip: Borussia Dortmund to win & over 2.5 goals
