Champions League Map Goes Crazy: From Western China’s Doorstep To The Arctic Circle (and Now Azerbaijan Too)

This season’s Champions League isn’t conscionable for nan ‘usual suspects’.

This year’s competition will characteristic 4 names fewer shot fans expected to spot nether nan agleam lights: Qarabag, Kairat Almaty, Pafos, and Bodø/Glimt. Together, they agelong UEFA’s representation from nan Arctic Circle to Central Asia, covering almost 7,000 kilometres.

Qarabag stuns Europe 1 much time

On Wednesday evening, Azerbaijan’s Qarabag sealed their summons to nan group shape aft a chaotic 5–4 aggregate triumph complete Ferencvaros. The Hungarians won 3–2 successful Baku, but Qarabag’s 3–1 triumph successful Budapest proved capable successful nan end.

Qarabag players, aft nan triumph against Ferencvaros.
Credit: Qarabag Facebook page

It’s only their second-ever Champions League campaign, nan first coming successful 2017–18 erstwhile they faced Chelsea, Roma and Atletico. Back then, 2 hard-earned draws gave them immoderate credibility. This time, for judge they’ll want more.

Kairat’s Kazakh dream

Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty pulled disconnected nan upset of nan round, dumping giants Celtic retired connected penalties aft 2 goalless legs. Kairat now subordinate Astana arsenic nan only Kazakh clubs to ever scope nan Champions League proper.

The travel for distant fans will beryllium a genuinely epic one: Almaty, nan largest metropolis successful Kazakhstan, lies person to occidental China than to astir of Europe’s capitals.

And past there’s Pafos fairytale

Jaja.
Credit: Pafos FC Facebook page

Founded only successful 2014, conscionable 11 years ago, Pafos has gone from section newcomers to continental gatecrashers. Their playoff necktie against Red Star Belgrade ended successful precocious drama: a 2–1 triumph successful Serbia followed by a 1–1 tie astatine home, sealed by a stoppage-time equaliser from Brazilian guardant Jaja. For a nine hardly a decade old, from Cyprus, it’s thing short of historic.

Arctic ambition

Bodø/Glimt fans successful Graz.
Credit: Bodø/Glimt Facebook page

Norway’s Bodø/Glimt are nary strangers to European nights: they reached nan Europa League semi-finals past season, famously humbling Tottenham on nan way. But this is their first Champions League adventure.

Sitting northbound of nan Arctic Circle, they dismantled Austria’s Sturm Graz 6–2 connected aggregate, proving they’re much than conscionable a squad from a stiff city.

From Lisbon to Almaty

So, erstwhile nan tie is made, connected Thursday, nan Champions League will agelong from Portugal’s superior to nan Kazakh steppe. That’s astir 7,000 km of shot geography, impervious that Europe’s elite title is nary longer conscionable astir Madrid, Barcelona, Paris aliases Manchester.

This year, nan Champions League anthem will roar successful places astir fans couldn’t find connected a representation a fewer years ago.

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