Sabah Baku suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat at home to NK Publikum Celje in a thrilling UEFA Europa League qualifying round first leg on July 11, 2025. The match was a dramatic back-and-forth affair that saw the visitors from Slovenia secure a slender advantage to take home for the second leg. The game kicked off with high intensity, and Sabah Baku managed to find the net twice, but NK Publikum Celje's attacking persistence paid off with three crucial away goals. The result leaves the tie finely poised, with Sabah Baku needing to score at least twice in the return fixture to have a chance of progressing in the competition. The match highlighted the competitive nature of the early qualifying rounds, where every goal can be decisive for the final aggregate score.