FC Twente vs Qarabağ FK

Twente came up short at home as Qarabag left De Grolsch Veste with a slender 0-1 win in the first leg of their Conference League qualifying tie. The Azerbaijani champions rode a disciplined defensive setup that frustrated the hosts for long stretches, turning a tight, scrappy contest in their favor. The only goal came just after the break, in the 52nd minute, when Borges pounced on a Twente giveaway in midfield from Pjaca and raced through to finish clinically. Twente pushed for an equalizer, with Van Rooij, Orjasaeter, and Weidmann all forcing chances, but Qarabag's back line held firm. There were no red cards or penalties, though the home crowd made its frustration known, jeering the players afterward. The result leaves Twente needing to overturn the deficit away in Azerbaijan next week, a tall order against a well-organized side defending home advantage. Qarabag, meanwhile, take a valuable cushion into the second leg with a real chance to book their spot in the competition's main phase.