Match Preview
Chelsea head to the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Wednesday seeking to lengthen their successful run within the Champions League to a few video games.
Enzo Maresca’s facet have recovered nicely since their opening loss away to Bayern Munich, responding with back-to-back dwelling victories over Benfica and Ajax.
One other win in Baku would additional push their qualification hopes, notably towards opponents who’ve struggled traditionally towards English opposition.
Qarabag have misplaced all seven of their European conferences with golf equipment from England, failing to attain within the final six of these fixtures.
Veteran coach Gurban Gurbanov has guided Qarabag to 2 Champions League wins this season, however this fixture represents their hardest take a look at but.
The Azerbaijani champions haven’t crushed an English facet in Europe and have been closely defeated by Chelsea the final time the 2 golf equipment met within the 2017-18 group stage, shedding 6-0 at Stamford Bridge and 4-0 at dwelling.
Nonetheless, current victories over Benfica and Copenhagen have provided a morale increase. Qarabag have scored in every of their three European matches thus far, a 3-2 win over Benfica, a 2-0 triumph towards Copenhagen, and a 3-1 defeat away to Athletic Membership.
The guests, in the meantime, arrive in excessive spirits after a gradual run of kind. Since their disappointing begin in Munich, they’ve claimed a slender 1-0 win over Benfica and a dominant 5-1 success towards Ajax, helped by an early crimson card to Kenneth Taylor.
A 1-0 league win towards Tottenham on the weekend continued their constructive run, and Maresca’s workforce will probably be assured of securing their first away European victory of the marketing campaign.
Workforce information for Qarabag v Chelsea
Qarabag will probably be with out ahead Ramil Sheydayev, who was not included of their Champions League squad. Joni Montiel made his long-awaited return with a short look on the weekend however is ineligible for Wednesday’s conflict.
Abdellah Zoubir, contemporary from a aim and help in home motion towards Imisli, is anticipated to be key on the left flank, whereas Leandro Andrade, their main scorer in Europe with targets towards Benfica and Athletic Membership, stays a serious attacking risk.
Chelsea proceed to handle a number of absences. Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Dario Essugo are nonetheless sidelined, and Mykhaylo Mudryk stays suspended following his anti-doping violation.
Joao Pedro, who netted the winner towards Tottenham, is on the market once more after serving his Champions League suspension for a crimson card towards Benfica.
Younger striker Liam Delap might make his European debut after recovering from a thigh harm, whereas Estevao could return to the beginning lineup following a substitute look on the weekend. E
nzo Maresca might additionally hand Moises Caicedo a relaxation, with Romeo Lavia in line for extra minutes in midfield.
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Anticipated line-ups for Qarabag v Chelsea
Qarabag: Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Bicalho, Borges; Duran, Andrade, Zoubir; Akhundzade
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Gittens; Guiu
The best way to watch Qarabag v Chelsea: TV channel, on-line stream
The match will happen on the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday night.
Kick-off is at 5:45pm within the UK and is on the market to look at dwell on TNT Sports activities, with dwell streaming obtainable through Discovery+ and the TNT Sports activities app.
The stats for Qarabag v Chelsea
- Qarabag have by no means crushed an English membership in European competitors (P7, L7)
- They’ve failed to attain of their final six conferences with Premier League sides
- Chelsea have scored 10 targets throughout their final two Champions League matches
- The Blues have gained on each earlier visits to Baku
- Qarabag have scored in all three of their group-stage video games thus far
Prediction
Qarabag’s attacking kind suggests they may discover the online towards a Chelsea facet that has proven occasional defensive lapses.
Nevertheless, the guests’ superior high quality ought to see them management the competition comfortably. Anticipate Maresca’s workforce to document a convincing away win and take one other step towards the competitors’s prime eight.
Prediction: Qarabag 1-4 Chelsea