The second leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round between The New Saints and Sabah takes place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Park Hall Stadium in Oswestry. Following a 2-0 defeat in Baku, the Welsh champions face a steep task to overturn a two-goal deficit, while the Azerbaijani side can manage the tie with composure.

New Saints: Home Advantage and Mandatory Risks

In the first leg, Craig Harrison’s side absorbed pressure well for long stretches before conceding twice in the final 25 minutes. Veljko Simic broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, before substitute Kaheem Parris doubled Sabah's advantage late in the game.

The central issue for TNS was a lack of offensive punch, managing just a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes in Azerbaijan. On home soil, however, New Saints are notoriously resilient, boasting experience from their Conference League main stage appearance two seasons ago. To pull off a comeback, they will need far greater sharpness in the final third.

Sabah: Tactical Discipline and Two-Goal Cushion

Valdas Dambrauskas’ team produced a mature and disciplined performance in the opening leg, gradually applying pressure while limiting TNS to long-range efforts. The 2-0 victory builds upon Sabah’s momentum following their historic domestic league and cup double last season.

However, the visitors face a defensive selection problem: centre-back Steve Solvet picked up a second yellow card in stoppage time and is suspended for the return leg. New signing Aidan McCarthy could step into the backline, while first-leg scorer Kaheem Parris may earn a spot in the starting XI.

Key Match Stats & Head-to-Head

• Sabah hold a 2-0 aggregate lead following their first-leg win in Baku.

• The New Saints managed only one shot on target during the first leg.

• Sabah defender Steve Solvet will miss the match due to suspension.

New Saints vs Sabah Prediction

Expect the Welsh hosts to press high from the opening whistle in an effort to ignite the tie early.

While home support should make TNS significantly more threating than in Baku, their need to push men forward will inevitably leave open spaces for Sabah on the counter-attack.

Sabah's tactical organization and two-goal buffer should prove sufficient for the Azerbaijani champions to secure passage to the next round. For live coverage and fixtures, visit UEFA.com.

Match Prediction: Both Teams to Score — Yes.