Dortmund Takes Early Lead Against Sabah FK in Baku

Borussia Dortmund took an early lead against Sabah FK in their UEFA Champions League league-phase match at Baku's Olympic Stadium on October 20, 2026. Serhou Guirassy scored in the 10th minute after Felix Nmecha forced a rebound, giving the German side a 1-0 advantage in Azerbaijan. The match also brought Joy-Lance Mickels, a former Borussia Monchengladbach prospect, into the spotlight against another Bundesliga club.

According to DAZN's live match coverage, Dortmund started with a five-defender formation featuring Gregor Kobel in goal, while Guirassy led the attack. Sabah lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system. Bluewin reported that more than 50,000 spectators attended the match at the Olympic Stadium in Baku.

Guirassy capitalized after a short forward run by Carney Chukwuemeka created an opportunity. Nmecha's initial effort from outside the penalty area forced Sabah goalkeeper's rebound, which Guirassy converted from close range. Both teams also received yellow cards during the reported period.

Before kickoff, former Dortmund defender Mats Hummels identified the long journey to Azerbaijan as a potential challenge for the visitors. Speaking to Ruhr Nachrichten, the 2014 World Cup winner said the physical demands were manageable but emphasized the importance of maintaining concentration after traveling.

Hummels explained that recovery and preparation would be important for Dortmund's performance.

"The travel strain is certainly an issue. Players must take very good care of their bodies and avoid becoming mentally exhausted by the long journey," Hummels said.

Hummels previously played in Azerbaijan three times, including appearances with the German national team and Dortmund against Qarabag Agdam and Qabala. He also highlighted the difficulty of preparing mentally for a match after an extended trip.

"The greater danger is becoming tired from the long journey. The challenge is to keep getting mentally ready for the game," Hummels said.

Dortmund arrived in Baku after three consecutive competitive matches without a victory, according to Fussballeuropa. A 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Bodo/Glimt and a goalless draw against Union Berlin. Despite that run, Niko Kovac's side had collected 14 points from six Bundesliga matches and occupied second place in the standings.

Sabah entered the contest after securing the first Champions League victory in the club's history. The Azerbaijani team defeated Slavia Prague 2-0 on October 13, following a 4-0 loss to Manchester United in its competition debut. The club, founded in 2007, had won the Azerbaijani championship in 2026 before progressing through four qualifying rounds to reach the league phase.

Mickels played a decisive role in Sabah's European campaign. The German-born forward scored the final goal in the victory over Slavia Prague in the 88th minute, completing a landmark result for the club. He had also contributed during the qualifying campaign, including a goal in the decisive playoff victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva.

The 32-year-old developed at Borussia Monchengladbach between 2005 and 2014, scoring 17 goals in 33 appearances in the under-19 Bundesliga. However, a knee injury disrupted his transition to senior football, and he made only five appearances for the club's reserve side in the Regionalliga before moving to Schalke in 2014.

Reflecting on his early career, Mickels recalled believing he would eventually reach the first team at Monchengladbach.

"At that point, I was firmly convinced that I would become part of the first team," Mickels said.

He later acknowledged that his development had stalled during his time in Germany, despite training opportunities at Schalke. His subsequent career included spells at Aachen, Nordhausen, Jena and Maastricht before he moved to Azerbaijan in 2021.

"I was not as professional as I should have been," Mickels said when reflecting on his earlier career.

The move to Sabah initially brought uncertainty, with Mickels living in a hotel and struggling to establish a social network. He recalled that people close to him questioned the decision to continue his career in Azerbaijan.

"Many of my friends told me that if I moved to Azerbaijan, I might as well end my career," Mickels said.

After a brief spell in Saudi Arabia, he returned to Sabah in 2024. He subsequently became a regular starter and the league's leading scorer as the club won its first Azerbaijani championship in 2026. In March that year, Mickels also made his debut for Rwanda's national team alongside his brothers Joy-Slayd and Leroy-Jacques.

Despite entering the match against Dortmund as an underdog, Mickels remained confident about Sabah's chances. In an interview with Absolut Fussball, he pointed to the unpredictable nature of a single match.

"Anything is possible in 90 minutes," Mickels said.

Mickels also expressed his continued attachment to Monchengladbach, where his professional ambitions first developed.

"I would go back to Monchengladbach, even if it meant earning less money," Mickels said.

His comments reflected a personal connection to the club rather than a confirmed transfer plan. Meanwhile, Sabah's historic European campaign continued against Dortmund, with Guirassy's 10th-minute strike giving the visitors the advantage in the match reported by DAZN and Bluewin.