Borussia Dortmund Secures Hard-Fought 2-1 Champions League Victory Against FK Sabah in Baku

Borussia Dortmund ended a challenging run in the UEFA Champions League group stage by defeating Azerbaijani newcomers FK Sabah 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on October 20, 2026. Striker Serhou Guirassy was instrumental in the win, scoring both goals for Dortmund at the 10th and 53rd minutes, breaking the club’s nearly year-long away victory drought in the competition.

Despite the victory, the match was a tense affair, with FK Sabah equalizing in the first half through Aden McCarthy. Dortmund’s performance drew criticism for missed opportunities and defensive lapses. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made several important saves to keep Dortmund ahead, though he reflected the team’s sentiment by remarking it “would have been great if we could have achieved an even better result.”

Head coach Niko Kovac acknowledged the win as "hard work but totally deserved," while pointing out "a small issue" concerning the team’s injury challenges, notably the absence of Konstantinos Karetsas. Kovac reassured fans that Dortmund is far from a crisis despite recent struggles and is focused on progressing well in the tournament.

This victory, Dortmund’s first away Champions League win in almost a year and their first after a string of several disappointing results including a loss to FK Bodö/Glimt, brought their group stage tally to six points from three matches. The win is crucial, especially as Dortmund faces a demanding group phase ahead, featuring matches against strong European sides.

The match was witnessed by about 45,000 spectators in Baku and broadcast live on DAZN, emphasizing Dortmund’s aim to maintain momentum in Europe this season. With this result, Borussia Dortmund remains positioned to aim for progression into the knockout rounds, aiming to avoid the setbacks of previous campaigns where they exited in the knockout stages.