The opening match of the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round saw Neftchi Baku hold Buducnost Podgorica to a hard-fought 0-0 draw at the Baku Stadium on 22 July 2026. Both sides had opportunities but were ultimately denied by resolute defending and a lack of clinical finishing in Azerbaijan.

Match Overview

Neftchi Baku, making their debut in Europe’s premier women’s club competition, came into the game as underdogs against the more experienced Montenegrin champions. However, the home side matched their opponents physically and tactically, particularly in the opening half where they created the better chances. Buducnost Podgorica, five-time winners of the Montenegrin Women's League, struggled to impose their passing game on a compact Neftchi midfield.

The match was played at a high tempo from the start, with both goalkeepers relatively untested in the first 25 minutes. Neftchi’s forward line pressed aggressively, forcing Buducnost into several hurried clearances. The visitors’ best chance came just before the hour mark when captain Slađana Bulatović headed over from a corner.

Key Moments

• 12th minute: Neftchi winger Ayshan Ahmadova cuts inside from the left and fires a low shot that Buducnost goalkeeper Marija Vukčević manages to push around the post.
• 39th minute: Buducnost midfielder Jelena Vujadinović is played through on goal but hesitates, allowing Neftchi defender Arzu Aliyeva to block the effort.
• 67th minute: A dangerous free-kick from Buducnost's Milica Radunović curls just over the bar, leaving Neftchi keeper Yuliya Taranova rooted to the spot.
• 82nd minute: Neftchi substitute Fidan Ibrahimova latches onto a loose ball in the area but volleys straight at Vukčević from close range.

Tactical Story

Neftchi head coach Ramil Aliyev set his team up in a 4-4-2 formation, prioritising defensive solidity and quick transitions. The central defensive pairing of Aliyeva and Ulviyya Mammadova stood firm against Buducnost’s height advantage at set pieces. Buducnost, managed by Marko Đurović, deployed a 4-3-3 system designed to control possession but lacked width in the final third. Their full-backs remained cautious, wary of Neftchi’s pace on the counter.

As the game progressed, the visitors dominated territory but lacked the incision to break down a well-drilled Neftchi backline. The home side’s midfield trio of Nigar Mirzaliyeva, Aynur Kərimova, and Lala Hajiyeva worked tirelessly to cut passing lanes and force turnovers.

Standout Players

• Yuliya Taranova (Neftchi Baku): The Ukrainian-born goalkeeper was relatively quiet but commanded her area well under high balls and made one crucial save in the first half.
• Arzu Aliyeva (Neftchi Baku): The centre-back was immense, making a vital block in the 39th minute and winning the majority of her aerial duels.
• Marija Vukčević (Buducnost Podgorica): The experienced shot-stopper denied Ahmadova early on and showed excellent handling when under pressure from crosses.

Table and Season Impact

The goalless draw leaves the tie finely balanced heading into the second leg in Montenegro next week. Both teams remain level on points in the two-legged qualifier, with the winner advancing to the next stage of the competition. Neftchi Baku will be the happier of the two sides, having avoided defeat and kept a clean sheet in their first-ever European women's match. Buducnost Podgorica, meanwhile, will rue their missed chances but know that a home advantage could prove decisive in the return fixture.

Neftchi Baku (W): Taranova; Mammadova, Aliyeva, Huseynova, Yusifova; Mirzaliyeva (c), Kərimova, Hajiyeva, Ahmadova; Karimova, Jafarova (Ibrahimova 60’).
Buducnost Podgorica (w): Vukčević; Đukanović, Pavićević, Radunović, Popović; Vujadinović, Bulatović (c), Kramžić; Rabrenović, Vukčević, M. Radunović.