Qualifying for the League Phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League gets under way on Tuesday as Welsh side The New Saints travel to Azerbaijan to tackle Sabah FK.
The New Saints, who are actually based in Shropshire, England, have dominated Welsh football in recent years. They have won 18 league titles, but they have struggled when stepping up to European football and they were eliminated in the first round of qualifying 12 months ago.
They were beaten by Shkendija of North Macedonia, but they will look to draw on their experience from the 2024/25 campaign, when they reached the second round of qualifying.
Sabah FK will compete in their first UEFA Champions League campaign after finally ending Qarabag's dominance in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Qarabag were pipped to the title for the first time since 2020 and Sabah FK will look to hit the ground running on home soil.
Sabah FK v The New Saints Tips Summary
Best Bet - Sabah FK to win and both teams to score @ 13/5
Alternative Bet - Team Total Goals - Sabah FK over 2.5 goals @ 7/4
Bet Builder - Half-time result - Sabah FK, Sabah FK to win both halves @ 5/2
Sabah FK v The New Saints Prediction
Best Bet: Sabah FK to win and both teams to score @ 13/5
The qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League can be a bit of a minefield and the contrasting calendars can often cause issues, and that should be the case in this clash.
While the New Saints have played only two friendlies since the end of April, Sabah FK have been in action eight times during that period.
Their league campaign came to an end in May and they have avoided defeat in 17 of their last 19 home matches.
Defensively, they can be exposed, though, with Valdas Dambrauskas's team keeping only three clean sheets in their last 15 games.
The New Saints have lost only two of their last 10, failing to score in just two ties, and while they should fall short against a formidable opponent, they can hit the back of the net.
Alternative Bet: Team Total Goals - Sabah over 2.5 goals @ 7/4
The New Saints have found domestic football plain sailing in recent years, but they often fall short and struggle to keep teams at bay on the road in Europe.
They lost 2-1 to Shkendija last season away from home in North Macedonia, while two seasons ago, they were thumped 5-0 by Hungarian side Ferencvaros on their travels.
Sabah FK have scored two or more goals in nine of their last 15 and can take full advantage of the fact they should be sharper than their opponents.
Sabah FK v The New Saints Bet Builder Tip
Half-time result - Sabah FK
Sabah FK to win both halves
Pays 5/2
A trip to Azerbaijan for any team is a difficult proposition and it would be no surprise to see The New Saints start slowly.
Their lack of match practice at a competitive level is the worst possible preparation for this game and their recent friendlies have been against Glentoran and H&W Welders.
Sabah FK have played three friendlies since the end of June and that sharpness will stand them in good stead as they should take control of this tie from the outset.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Sabah FK lost only three games last season on their way to a first Azerbaijan Premier League title
Sabah FK have won 10 of their last 15 home matches
The New Saints lost three fixtures as they won the league title once again in Wales
Both teams have scored in Sabah FK's last six fixtures
The New Saints are unbeaten in three competitive matches
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
