Traffic jams hit the Champions League! Kick-off for Aarhus vs Sabah postponed at the last minute
Before this crucial European showdown, both teams had to overcome a fierce battle with traffic chaos.
Details: The start of the match between Danish side Aarhus and Azerbaijan's Sabah was pushed back due to severe road congestion. The team buses for both squads were delayed en route and couldn't make it to Cepheus Park in Randers on schedule.
The original kick-off was set for 18:30 Central European Summer Time. After the unexpected logistical hiccup, organizers rescheduled the start for 19:10, resulting in a 40-minute delay.
This is the first leg of the third qualifying round for the 2026/27 Champions League. At this stage, every mistake can be costly, as the winner of this two-legged tie will advance to the playoff round—the final hurdle before the tournament's main draw.
Despite being the nominal hosts, Aarhus are playing away from their home city. For European competitions, the Danish club has adopted Cepheus Park in Randers as their home ground. Aarhus had issued an early advisory to fans that the clash with Sabah would take place at this venue.
Aarhus reached this round thanks to a sensational comeback against Lech. After a 1-4 defeat in the first leg, the Danish side roared back with a 4-1 win in the return leg, forcing a penalty shootout and dramatically clinching their spot in the next stage.
Sabah, meanwhile, have been almost flawless in their qualifying campaign. The Azerbaijani club twice defeated Welsh side TNS—2:0 and 2:1—before confidently dispatching Finnish outfit KuPS with 1:0 and 2:0 victories. In total, Sabah have won all four of their previous qualifying matches by an aggregate score of 7:1.
The Randers showdown is just the opening act. The second leg is scheduled for August 11 at the Bank Respublika Arena in Masazyr, where Sabah will host the Danish champions on their own turf.
The match is being officiated by a Slovenian referee team led by Rade Obrenović. Despite the delay, the fixture was not canceled, giving both teams extra time to arrive and complete their pre-match preparations.
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Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
