Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has gone out and made history again… this time, he’s become the first Indian player to play in the Europa League, club football’s second-most prestigious tournament after the Champions League.
Sandhu was named in the starting XI for Stabaek’s first round qualifying match against Connah’s Quay Nomads, a Welsh Premier League club, which, just like the Norwegian club, is playing in the Europa League for the first time. Gurpreet had to come off due to a hand injury after just 27 minutes, but should soon be back between the sticks. Stabaek came away with a 0-0 draw and the second leg is scheduled for 7 July.
Gurpreet is having a phenomenal 2016, having broken into the Stabaek first-team, featuring in three Norwegian Cup matches and also appearing in the league.
The appearances have made him the first Indian to start for a top-tier European club, the first Indian to play in a top division European league and now he’s leaped into European competition as well.
Gupreet has also clocked up 12 senior appearances for the India team, and was a vital part of their SAFF Cup win earlier this year.
The first round of the Europa League is also played on a home and away basis. The winners of the clash between Stabaek and Nomads will either play Bokelj (Montenegro) or Vojvodina (Serbia).
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