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Chelsea make the long trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag as Enzo Maresca looks to climb the Blues further up the Champions League table
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Chelsea travel to the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Wednesday to take on Qarabag FK, seeking a third straight Champions League win that would strengthen their bid for a top-eight finish. Enzo Maresca’s side have bounced back from their opening defeat at Bayern Munich with home victories over Benfica and Ajax, putting them in a strong position against a Qarabag team that has never beaten English opposition in seven previous attempts.
Qarabag’s long-serving manager, Gurban Gurbanov, has already guided his team to two Champions League wins this season, but now faces perhaps their toughest test yet against an English side. The Azerbaijani champions have lost seven consecutive European matches against English clubs, failing to score in the last six, including two heavy group-stage defeats to Chelsea in the 2017-18 campaign, underlining the gulf in class.
However, Qarabag can take confidence from their impressive victories over Benfica and Copenhagen in the opening rounds, which have kept their hopes alive. Although they lost 3-1 away to Athletic Club last time out, the Horsemen have found the net in every group match so far—a 3-2 win over Benfica, a 2-0 triumph against Copenhagen, and the defeat in Bilbao—suggesting they could trouble Chelsea’s defence, even if a win seems a tall order.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be wary of underestimating the Azerbaijan champions as they look for their first away win in this season’s competition, following back-to-back home successes. After a sobering loss at Bayern on matchday one, Maresca’s men edged past Benfica 1-0 and then thrashed Ajax 5-1, aided by an early red card for Kenneth Taylor.
Fresh from a routine 1-0 league victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Chelsea are strong favourites to make it three European wins in a row and potentially break into the top eight. They currently sit just outside those places on goal difference, but their superior squad quality should give fans optimism for the long trip to Baku—a city where they famously beat Arsenal 4-1 in the 2019 Europa League final.
With the possibility of climbing as high as sixth if results go their way—especially with five clubs, including PSG and Bayern, all level on nine points—Chelsea will be eager to capitalise on their form and secure another vital three points on the continent.
Qarabag vs ChelseaBetting Tips
- Chelsea to win to nil - 6/4 (Betfred)
- Estevao to score anytime - 6/4 (Betfred)
- Chelsea over 2.5 goals - 6/5 (Betfred)
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