THE NEW SAINTS LOSE 2-0 TO SABAH IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER

The New Saints suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sabah in the first qualifying round of the Champions League in Azerbaijan. The Welsh club conceded twice in the away fixture and now face a substantial task to progress in the competition. The New Saints must overturn the two-goal deficit in the home leg of the tie to advance further.

The first qualifying round represents an early hurdle for clubs seeking to reach the group stages of Europe's premier club competition. Sabah, based in Baku, secured the victory at home and now hold a commanding advantage heading into the return fixture. The away leg result places The New Saints in a position where they require a significant performance to progress.

The New Saints will host Sabah in the second leg at home as they look to turn the tie around. Victory by three goals or more would see the Welsh club advance on away goals if they match Sabah's aggregate score. The club will attempt to overturn the deficit in front of their own supporters in the return fixture.