Qarabağ vs Chelsea

Qarabağ’s historic Champions League campaign continues to impress, even after their 3-1 defeat away to Athletic Club on Matchday 3. The Azerbaijani champions had already broken new ground earlier in the competition, claiming their first-ever wins in the Champions League proper with memorable victories against Benfica (3-2 away) and Copenhagen (2-0 at home). Those triumphs underline just how far the Horsemen have come in European football. Including qualifying rounds, Qarabağ have won seven of their nine matches in this season’s competition (L2) and three of their four at home (L1). Their attacking form has been particularly eye-catching: they’ve scored 16 goals in their last six Champions League fixtures, blending pace, width and precision in the final third. Leandro Andrade has been at the heart of that success. The Cape Verde winger has scored in four of Qarabağ’s last six European outings, providing the creative spark and finishing touch that have defined their campaign. With Baku’s Tofiq Bahramov Stadium once again expected to be a sell-out, Qarabağ will be aiming to maintain their strong home record and challenge one of Europe’s elite. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Nariman Akhundzada in attack is anticipated against the Blues.

Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive in Azerbaijan buoyed by a commanding 5-1 win over Ajax on Matchday 3. That victory marked the Blues’ 200th appearance in the Champions League proper and produced a unique piece of history, as Estêvão, Tyrique George, and Marc Guiu made Chelsea the first team ever to have three teenage scorers in a single match in the competition. It also left the Blues in 11th place on the league phase table. Enzo Maresca’s side have now won 14 of their last 16 European fixtures (L2), including 12 of the last 13 in the group stage or league phase. Their only blemish during that stretch came in a 3-1 defeat to Bayern München on Matchday 1. Chelsea’s attacking consistency remains their hallmark—they have scored in each of their last 18 European games, and remarkably, none of their last 51 continental fixtures have ended goalless. Chelsea have also reached another milestone this season, taking their tally of European Cup goals to 349. With such depth in attack and a confident blend of experienced internationals and emerging talents, the London club will be strong favourites to win all three points. Marc Guiu is expected to lead the attack when Enzo Maresca deploys the 4—2—3—1 formation.