After encountering Noah and Ludogorec this summer, our 36-time Hungarian champion men's football team welcomed Azerbaijani side Qarabag to the Groupama Arena for the first match of the UEFA Champions League play-offs. In our almost sold-out sanctuary, head coach Robbie Keane sent Dibusz, Gartenmann, Raemaekers, Szalai, Makreckis, Tóth, Kanikovszki, Ötvös, O'Dowda, Joseph and Varga onto the pitch.

First half

Kady had the first shot, Dibusz saved it, but the rebound almost went to the visitors, then Akhundzade's header went over the bar. In the 8th minute, we also had a chance, after Gartenmann's cross from the right, Varga headed just wide. After that, we escaped a scramble in front of our goal, with none of the visitors' players able to connect with the ball played into the middle. At the other end, Joseph found himself in a good position, but his shot went wide of the onrushing goalkeeper, and later Kochalski saved Tóth's shot. In the 27th minute, Medina's header went over the bar after a corner, and two minutes later, Makreckis passed the ball from the right to the center after a nice dribble, which Barnabás Varga took excellently and scored our team's first goal (1-0). The second goal was close, as Szalai passed to Joseph, whose shot was saved by Kochalski, ending the first half.

Second half

During the break, Ötvös had to be substituted due to injury, with Kristoffer Zacharissen coming on in his place for the second half. The visitors equalized right at the start of the second half, with Jankovic's long-range shot finding its way into Dibusz's goal (1-1). In the 63rd minute, Ibrahim Cissé replaced Gartenmann. Four minutes later, Medina's goal gave Qarabag the lead (1-2). We made another substitution, bringing on Gruber Zsombor, Alekszandar Pesics Varga and Joseph. In the 76th minute, Tóth passed the ball to Pesics, but his header was not strong enough. Jonathan Levi then replaced Kanikovszki. Two minutes later, Makreckis had a chance, but his shot bounced off the visitors' goal. Raemaekers had the next opportunity, but his header went wide. On the other side, however, Gurbanli did not miss his chance (1-3). There was a chance to reduce the deficit, but Levi shot over the ball played into the middle.

The tie continues next Wednesday in Azerbaijan, where our team will have to overcome a two-goal deficit in the second leg to stay in the game for a place in the Champions League group stage.