President Aliyev hails Qarabag’s historic triumph in Champions League

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev extended his heartfelt congratulations to FC Qarabag following the club’s maiden victory in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Describing the achievement as a historic milestone, Aliyev underscored its significance not only for the sport but also for the nation’s broader athletic aspirations.

The President conveyed his message via a post on his official X account, where he lauded Qarabag’s extraordinary performance in their away fixture against one of Europe’s most venerable football institutions, Benfica, Caliber.Az reports.

Qitənin ən nüfuzlu klub turnirində - Çempionlar Liqasının əsas mərhələsində ilk qələbəsini qazanması münasibətilə Ağdamın “Qarabağ” futbol klubunu ürəkdən təbrik edirəm. Bu, Azərbaycan futbolunun, Azərbaycan idmanının tarixi zəfəridir.

“Qarabağ”ın Avropanın köklü klublarından… pic.twitter.com/7mElqtaV81

— İlham Əliyev (@azpresident) September 17, 2025

Highlighting the team’s remarkable comeback, Aliyev praised their resilience, determination, and indomitable fighting spirit that culminated in a dazzling win on foreign soil.

“This triumph has brought immense pride and joy to the people of Azerbaijan,” Aliyev remarked. “Every citizen shares in the pride of Qarabag’s success, as they continue to make their mark on the European football stage.”

Looking ahead, the President expressed his optimism for the club’s future, extending his best wishes for continued success and further victories in the upcoming Champions League matches.

To recall, Azerbaijan’s Qarabag secured a remarkable 3-2 away win over Portuguese giants Benfica in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

After falling behind early, Qarabag fought back with determination. Benfica took the lead in the 6th minute when Enzo Barrenechea deflected a corner into the far corner of the net, and Vangelis Pavlidis doubled the advantage in the 16th minute.

Qarabag responded before halftime when Leandro Andrade scored a powerful strike in the 30th minute, bringing the score to 2-1. Early in the second half, Camilo Duran equalised in the 48th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

The decisive goal came in the 86th minute, with Oleksiy Kashchuk finishing a clever passing move with Zoubir in the Benfica penalty area.

The win marks a historic moment for Qarabag, who are competing in the Champions League group stage for the second time. The Azerbaijani champions will now face tough opponents including Chelsea, Liverpool, Eintracht Frankfurt, Napoli, Athletic Bilbao, and Copenhagen.

The match was held at Estádio da Luz and officiated by Belgian FIFA referee Erik Lambrechts.

By Vafa Guliyeva