Puchacz and Sabah Baku move two games from Champions League

Tymoteusz Puchacz and Sabah Baku are now just two matches away from the Champions League after a commanding second-leg win over Aarhus in the third qualifying round. The Azerbaijani side overturned their first-leg deficit with a 4-0 home victory, sealing a 5-2 aggregate success and keeping alive the Polish defender’s bid to reach Europe’s top club competition.

Sabah turn the tie around at home

Aarhus had taken a narrow advantage into the return after winning the first meeting 2-1 on their own ground. In that game, James Bogere scored twice for the Danish side, while Veljko Simić kept Sabah firmly in the contest with a goal of his own. Puchacz completed the full 90 minutes in that first leg.

He was again named in the starting line-up for the return, and Sabah’s response was emphatic. Although the breakthrough did not come until the second half, the home side found the cutting edge they needed to swing the tie decisively in their favour.

Simić, already on the scoresheet in the first match, struck again to begin the comeback. Steve Solvet then added another, before Jay-Lance Mickels and Xander Severina completed the scoring in a one-sided finish to the evening.

Puchacz’s growing influence

Puchacz once more lasted the entire match, underlining his importance to Sabah during this qualifying run. The Polish defender has been a regular presence in the side and has already made a notable attacking contribution earlier in the campaign.

Across the previous two rounds against The New Saints and Kuopion Palloseura, he registered three assists. That return has helped strengthen the sense that his role could be significant if Sabah are to complete an unlikely push into the Champions League proper.

For Puchacz personally, the stakes are clear. He has never featured in the league phase, or previously the group stage, of the Champions League. He does, however, have European experience from spells with Lech Poznań and Union Berlin, having played in the Conference League and the Europa League.

From Lech’s former opponents to a bigger opportunity

There is an added layer to Sabah’s progress given Aarhus’ recent history against Lech Poznań. Supporters of the Polish champions had hoped their own side would be involved in this tie, only for Lech to suffer a dramatic exit after beating Aarhus heavily away from home before losing by the same margin in the return and then going out on penalties.

Sabah have now done what Lech could not against the Danish club in this round, producing a far more controlled outcome over two legs and advancing with authority.

Next step in qualifying

Sabah will face the winner of the tie between Hapoel Beer Szewa and Crvena zvezda Belgrad in the fourth qualifying round. Hapoel Beer Szewa lead that contest 1-0 after the first match.

For Sabah and for Puchacz, the equation is simple: one more qualifying hurdle remains between them and a place among Europe’s elite. After this display, that target looks far more tangible than it did a week earlier.