KuPS
On Tuesday 28 July, in the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round, Finnish side KuPS will host Azerbaijani club Sabah FK. The match in Kuopio at Vare Areena will kick off at 16:00 (BST).
After the first leg, KuPS still have very good chances of going through to the next round, despite a narrow 0:1 defeat in Baku.
KuPS will be playing at home in comfortable weather. Unlike the previous round, the Finnish team now have to overturn a deficit rather than protect a lead. They will need to attack from the outset. Even so, for the bookmakers KuPS are not favourites, even on their own pitch, with odds above 3.0. Are Miika Nuutinen’s men really that weak, even compared with the champions of Azerbaijan?
KuPS will push forward from the first minute. In Azerbaijan the Canaries managed only five shots, coming under heavy pressure. At home the picture will change: on their own artificial turf the team will play far more aggressively. Leading the line again will be the imposing Piotr Parzyszek, with Gustav Engvall and Bob Nii Armah supporting him from the flanks.
In the first meeting the Owls from Baku completely controlled the game, enjoying 64% possession and taking 18 shots on goal. The midfield at Sabah FK is confidently marshalled by Aleksey Isayev, while Kaheem Parris and Veljko Simic provide the threat out wide. Even so, it is hard for the visitors from the south to maintain a high tempo for all 90 minutes, so in the away leg they are likely to drop deep and focus on defence.
Home advantage and the hosts’ European experience should play a key role. KuPS have scored at Vare Areena in six of their last nine European qualifying home matches, including all three in the Champions League. We cannot guarantee that the Finnish club will progress, but one or two goals from them look almost certain — and from there they can push on for the win.
|
Miika Nuutinen
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Johannes Kreidl
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Akseli Viljami Puukko
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bob Nii Armah
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Brahima Magassa
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Clinton Antwi
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kasim Adams Nuhu
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Petteri Henri Juhana Pennanen
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Saikou Touray
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tommi Matti Jyry
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Valentín Román Gasc
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jaime José Moreno Ciorciari
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Hemmo Riihimäki
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kasperi Silen
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arttu Mikael Olavi Lötjönen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ricardo Jorge Silva Araújo
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Saku Heiskanen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Taneli Armas Hämäläinen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arttu Heinonen
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Niilo Juhani Kujasalo
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Hope Calvin Ddamulira Kabuye
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Piotr Parzyszek
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Saku Jussi Savolainen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Valdas Dambrauskas
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Stas Pokatilov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Akim Zedadka
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rəhman Daşdəmirov
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Steve Loic Solvet
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tymoteusz Puchacz
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aleksey İsayev
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ivan Lepinjica
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joy-Lance Mickels
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kaheem Anthony Parris
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Umarali Rakhmonaliev
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Veljko Simić
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Amin Ramazanov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rəvan Mirzəmmədov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aden McCarthy
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Erivaldo Almeida Santos Junior
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Abdulla Xaybulayev
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rauf Rüstəmli
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rodrigo Francisco Pinto Vieira Fernandes
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tellur Mütəllimov
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Xander David Severina
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Patrick Orphé Mbina
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Younes Lachaab
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
FK Sabah
KuPS
KuPS
Vardar
Vardar
KuPS
FK Sabah
KuPS
The New Saints
FK Sabah
FK Sabah
The New Saints
Champions League 2026/27
FK Sabah
KuPS
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
9
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
18
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
9
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
10
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
14
|
Manchester City
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Aston Villa
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Betis
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
Arsenal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
AS Roma
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
5
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
6
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
7
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
8
|
PSG
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
9
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
11
|
Manchester United
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Liverpool
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
AEK Athens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
