Viking vs Sabah Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Norwegian champions Viking have been competitive in the UEFA Champions League as they come up against Azeri champions Sabah in Northern Europe on Wednesday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Viking preview: Couple of defeats and a draw
Having secured an unlikely qualification for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Viking’s performances have perhaps been better than having collected just one point from their opening three matches.
Defeats in tough matches against Stuttgart and Aston Villa, both away from home, have sandwiched a thrilling 3-3 draw with German champions Bayern Munich in a game in which they led 2-0 before rescuing a point late on.
Sabah preview: Competitive Sabah
Sabah, seeking to replicate compatriots Qarabag who reached the knockout play-off round of the UEFA Champions League last season, began their league phase campaign with a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Missing some big chances in that, Sabah fought back to impressively defeat Slavia Prague by two goals to nil before a hard-fought and slender 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Baku a couple of weeks ago.
Viking team news: A few issues
Viking continue to be without the likes of Vedon Berisha and Nick D’Agostino but they could return later this month, while Anders Baertelsen is working his way back to full fitness after a broken foot.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ostbo; Haugen, Stensness, Daland, Heggheim; Askilsden, Bell, Moi; Christiansen, Botheim, Tripic
Unavailable: D’Agostino (Injured), Bjorshol (Injured), Berisha (Injured), Ove (Injured)
Questionable: Baertelsen (Injured)
Sabah team news: Fully fit
It looks as though Sabah manager Valdas Dambrauskas is blessed with a fully fit and available squad as The Students, as they are nicknamed, head to Norway this midweek.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pokatilov; Zedadka, Solvet, McCarthy, Puchacz; Rakhmonaliev, Lepinjica; Parris, Du Queiroz, Simic; Mickels
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Viking vs Sabah prediction
Viking have shown quality in all three matches thus far and an ability to score against and bloody the nose of pretty much anyone in Europe, as was the case against Bayern. Sabah, on the other hand, also head to Norway having shown a steady level of competitiveness, albeit with home advantage. So, while Viking are favourites in Norway, both teams scoring may well also be a decent bet here, too.
Viking vs Sabah Tip: Viking to win & both teams to score
