Bodo return to Champions League, Azerbaijan’s Sabah deny Israeli Beer-Sheva

What the report says

Bodo/Glimt, LASK and Sabah secured places in the UEFA Champions League’s 36-team main phase after playoff wins reported by Al Jazeera on Tuesday, 26 August 2026. The Norwegian side advanced comfortably past NEC Nijmegen, while Austria’s LASK produced one of the night’s biggest comebacks to eliminate Celtic and send the Scottish champions into the Europa League.

Al Jazeera said LASK overturned a heavy first-leg deficit at Celtic’s expense, scoring five unanswered goals in the second leg, including a late equalizer in normal time and a winner in extra time. Celtic had entered the match with a three-goal lead from Glasgow but collapsed after the break. The result ended Celtic’s Champions League hopes for this season.

The report also highlighted Sabah, a club formed in 2017, which reached the Champions League proper for the first time after defeating Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel. Sabah trailed on aggregate until a stoppage-time goal forced extra time, after which further goals sealed a 6-4 aggregate victory. Hapoel Beer-Sheva finished with nine players after two second yellow cards in extra time.

The article framed the night as significant for both established and emerging clubs: Bodo/Glimt continue a recent run as a notable European underdog, and Sabah becomes a debutant in the competition’s main phase. Four more second-leg playoffs were set for Wednesday to complete the field, with the draw scheduled in Monaco on Thursday.