Historic Victory for Noah, Goals from Mkhitaryan and Zelarayán – A Bright Week for Armenian Footballers

From February 17 to 24, Armenian footballers abroad once again found themselves at the center of attention. It was a truly eventful week: a historic victory for an Armenian club in European competition, a decisive goal by Mkhitaryan in Italy, consistent performances by key players in Serbia, and standout displays in Argentina and Poland.

The main highlight was Noah’s triumph in the Conference League — the first-ever goal and first-ever victory by an Armenian team in the playoffs of a European competition. Meanwhile, Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the winning goal for Inter in Serie A against Lecce, Nair Tiknizyan delivered two strong performances against tough opponents, and Lucas Zelarayán continues to find the net in Argentina.

Ahead lie the return legs of the European competitions featuring Mkhitaryan, Tiknizyan and Noah, as well as the resumption of domestic leagues. Armenian players are approaching the decisive stretch of the season in good form and with important results behind them.

Armenian Footballers (February 17–24)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Inter, Serie A)

• February 18 (Champions League) — Bodø/Glimt vs Inter (3–1)
Mkhitaryan started and played 76 minutes. SofaScore rating: 6.2.

• February 21 (Serie A) — Lecce vs Inter (0–2)
Mkhitaryan came on in the 60th minute and scored the winning goal in the 75th minute. SofaScore rating: 7.8.

Mkhitaryan plays today, February 24, in the Champions League return match against Bodø/Glimt.

Tigran Barseghyan (Slovan, Slovakia)

• February 18 (Slovak Cup) — Spartak Trnava vs Slovan (1–1, pens 5–3)
Barseghyan started and played the full match. He converted his penalty in the shootout. SofaScore rating: 7.0.

• February 22 (Slovak League) — Ružomberok vs Slovan (2–2)
Barseghyan came on in the 46th minute and scored a goal. SofaScore rating: 7.6.

Nair Tiknizyan (Crvena Zvezda, Serbia)

• February 19 (Europa League) — Lille vs Crvena Zvezda (0–1)
Tiknizyan started and played 77 minutes. SofaScore rating: 7.4.

• February 22 (Serbian SuperLiga) — Crvena Zvezda vs Partizan (3–0)
Tiknizyan started and played the full match. He provided an assist for Arnautović. SofaScore rating: 7.5.

Tiknizyan delivered two excellent performances against strong opponents. The Europa League return leg will take place in Belgrade on Thursday.

Hovhannes Hambardzumyan (Noah, Armenia)

• February 19 (Confernce League) — Noah vs AZ (1–0)
Hambardzumyan started as captain and played 56 minutes. He scored the winning goal in what became a historic match — the first goal and first victory for an Armenian team in the playoffs of a European competition. SofaScore rating: 7.7.

Sergey Muradyan (Noah, Armenia)

• February 19 (Europa League) — Noah vs AZ (1–0)
Muradyan started and played the full match. SofaScore rating: 6.9.

Ognjen Čančarević (IMT Novi Beograd, Serbia)

• February 22 (Serbian SuperLiga) — Radnički Niš vs IMT (2–1)
The Armenia national team goalkeeper played the full match and made one save. SofaScore rating: 6.0.

Styopa Mkrtchyan (Nürnberg, Germany)

• February 20 (2. Bundesliga) — Bochum vs Nürnberg (1–1)
The Armenia national team defender remained on the bench for the second consecutive match.

Grant-Leon Ranos (Eintracht Braunschweig, Germany)

• February 21 (2. Bundesliga) — Elversberg vs Eintracht B (3–1)
Ranos came on in the 61st minute, playing as a right winger and also in a secondary striker role. SofaScore rating: 6.2.

Lucas Zelarayán (Belgrano, Argentina)

• February 20 (Argentine League) — Defensa y Justicia vs Belgrano (1–1)
Zelarayán played 70 minutes and scored a beautiful goal. SofaScore rating: 7.1. It was the 33-year-old midfielder’s second goal in five matches.

Norberto Briasco Balekian (Barracas Central, Argentina)

• February 21 (Argentine League) — Platense vs Barracas (1–0)
Balekian came on in the 46th minute. SofaScore rating: 6.9.

Tomás Adoryán (Banfield, Argentina)

• February 22 (Argentine League) — Banfield vs Newell’s Old Boys (3–0)
Adoryán came on in the 46th minute. SofaScore rating: 7.3. After his introduction, Banfield scored three goals. The Armenian midfielder was very active in attack, creating three chances but without registering a goal or assist.

Vahan Bichakhchyan (Legia, Poland)

• February 21 (Ekstraklasa) — Legia vs Wisła Płock (2–1)
Bichakhchyan started and played 59 minutes as a left winger. SofaScore rating: 7.4.

Legia’s first win of 2026.

Georgiy Harutyunyan (Puskás Akadémia, Hungary)

• February 21 (Hungarian League) — Kazincbarcika vs Puskás A (2–2)
Harutyunyan remained on the bench for the second consecutive match.

Narek Grigoryan (Farul, Romania)

• February 22 (Romanian SuperLiga) — Argeș vs Farul (3–1)
Grigoryan came on in the 62nd minute. SofaScore rating: 7.2. He improved the team’s play, created a scoring chance and delivered a key pass, but it was not enough for his side.

Arthur Miranyan (Bnei Sakhnin, Israel)

• February 21 (Israeli League) — Bnei Sakhnin vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (0–0)
Miranyan started and played 83 minutes. SofaScore rating: 6.8.

Edgar Navassardian (Östersunds, Sweden)

• February 21 (Swedish Cup) — Göteborg vs Östersunds (0–0)
Navassardyan started and played 73 minutes as a striker. SofaScore rating: 7.0.

Albert Aleksanjan (Norrköping, Sweden)

• February 21 (Swedish Cup) — Norrköping vs Sandviken (2–0)
The 19-year-old made his debut for his new team. He played 63 minutes and provided an assist. SofaScore rating: 7.3.

Finn Geragusian (Sunderland U21, England)

• February 20 (Premier League 2) — Everton U21 vs Sunderland U21 (1–2)
Geragusian played the full match, won a penalty and scored a goal.

Wbeymar Angulo (Malut United, Indonesia)

• February 20 (Indonesian Super League) — Semen vs Malut United (2–2)
Angulo played the full match. SofaScore rating: 7.1.

Jordi Monroy Ararat (Deportivo Pereira, Colombia)

• February 21 (Primera A) — Pereira vs Deportivo Pasto (2–2)
Monroy Ararat came on in the 70th minute. SofaScore rating: 6.2.

Sargis Adamyan (Köln II, Germany)

• February 21 (Regionalliga West) — Wuppertaler vs Köln II (1–0)
Adamyan played 80 minutes.

Mark Gevorgyan (Hannover II, Germany)

• February 22 (Regionalliga Nord) — Hannover II vs Meppen (2–2)
The 20-year-old right-back played the full match and received a yellow card.

Erjanik Ghubasaryan (Weiche 08, Germany)

• February 22 (Regionalliga Nord) — Blau-Weiß Lohne vs Weiche 08 (0–3)
The former Armenia U21 captain played the full match as a defensive midfielder.

Albert Mnatsakanyan (Luftëtari, Albania)

• February 21 (Albanian First Division) — Laçi vs Luftëtari (2–1)
Mnatsakanyan played the full match.

Seroj Titizyan (Vevey-Sports, Switzerland)

• February 21 (Promotion League) — Vevey-Sports vs Bavois (0–4)
Titizyan played the full match.

Anthony Sardaryan (Regensburg U19, Germany)

• February 22 (U19 Nachwuchsliga) — Frankfurt vs Regensburg U19 (3–0)
The 17-year-old winger returned from injury and played his second match back, featuring for six minutes.

The Armenian Premier League will resume this Friday — February 27.