Chelsea Faces Qarabağ in Champions League Showdown

Baku, Azerbaijan – Chelsea Football Club travels to Baku on Wednesday for a crucial Champions League match against Qarabağ FK. The Blues are in high spirits after winning six of their last seven matches in all competitions, with their only setback being a defeat against Sunderland. Chelsea aims to build on recent triumphs against Benfica and Ajax, looking to secure a victory that would elevate them in the Champions League standings following an opening loss to Bayern Munich.

The English side has faced Qarabağ before, decisively winning their previous contests in the 2017–18 Champions League group stage, scoring a total of ten goals without reply. However, Qarabağ has shown resilience this season, claiming notable victories against Benfica and Copenhagen. They currently stand with confidence despite a recent loss to Athletic Club.

Qarabağ’s head coach, Gurban Gurbanov, will be without key players Ramil Sheydayev and Joni Montiel for the match. Nevertheless, he has faith in superstar Leandro Andrade, who has been instrumental, scoring against both Benfica and Athletic Club. Goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski is expected to play a crucial role, as he will be called upon frequently to defend against Chelsea’s attack.

Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, will likely rotate the squad due to several injuries. Cole Palmer, along with other players like Levi Colwill, Benoît Badiashile, and Mykhailo Mudryk, will miss the encounter. Maresca might deploy Liam Delap, who returns from suspension, in hopes of boosting their attacking options.

The predicted lineup for Chelsea features Jörgensen in goal, with a defensive line of Gusto, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, and Hato. In midfield, Santos and Lavia are expected to support forwards Estêvão, Fernández, Gittens, and Delap.

As the match draws closer, analysts expect Chelsea to dominate given their previous performances and quality on paper. Despite admiring Qarabağ’s progress in the Champions League, Chelsea’s extensive history in European competitions and strong squad depth position them as the favorites for this match in Baku.