2025-26 UEFA Champions League: League Phase – Qarabag vs Chelsea

Qarabag host Chelsea in the league phase of 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. 

Locked on six points apiece in 13th and 11th positions respectively, victory could lift Qarabag or Chelsea into the top eight.

 

Team News

Joni Montiel is ineligible to feature for Qarabag despite his recent return from injury, having been left out of their Champions League squad list.

Ramil Sheydayev is ruled out for unspecified reasons.

Chelsea will welcome Liam Delap back from suspension which kept him out of their 1-0 Premier League victory at Tottenham.

Pedro Neto (knock) is a doubt but Cole Palmer (groin), Benoit Badiashile (muscle), Levi Colwill (ACL), Dario Essugo (thigh) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Qarabag host Chelsea at Azersun Arena on Wednesday 5 November at 9:45pm AZT (5:45pm GMT), live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Qarabag lost their two previous Champions League meetings against Chelsea (L2).
• Chelsea won 4-0 away in their sole previous visit to Qarabag in November 2017.
• Qarabag have conceded 10 goals in their two previous Champions League meetings against Chelsea without scoring.
• Qarabag have won three of four home games in this season’s Champions League since they entered in the Second Qualifying Round (W3, L1).
• Chelsea have won their two previous clashes against Azerbaijan-based opposition, which coincidentally were both against Qarabag in the group stage of 2017-18 season.

 

Prediction

Despite keeping just one clean sheet in their three league phase games, Qarabag haven’t proved to be rollovers after surprise wins over Benfica and Copenhagen which suggests that they can’t be underestimated given their clean attacking ability.

Chelsea meanwhile were wasteful in their dominant but ultimately clinical win at Tottenham so this is a case of trying to polish their end product, especially with Delap now back to lead the attack and they will be boosted by their solid record against Qarabag.

The long-distance trip however will undoubtedly play a part in Enzo Maresca’s team selection and with Qarabag in strong home form, this won’t be easy but I still can’t see them losing this.

Prediction: Qarabag 1-2 Chelsea

Result: Qarabag 2-2 Chelsea