Qarabağ vs Chelsea Review
Chelsea played a disappointing 2-2 draw against Qarabağ FK, who remain undefeated at home in this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL). Enzo Maresca’s team at least managed to end a streak of three consecutive away losses in the competition. Roméo Lavia, who made the long journey, had to leave the game due to injury after just eight minutes. His substitute, Moisés Caicedo, was the first to pose a threat, sending a half-volley over the bar following a corner clearance to the edge of the box. Andrey Santos missed a close-range opportunity but redeemed himself in the 16th minute by setting up Estêvão, who cut inside from the right and fired the opening goal into the near post.
The home team had appeared threatening during their infrequent attacks but hadn’t managed to break through the Blues’ last line of defense. That changed just before the 30-minute mark when Camilo Durán shrugged off Jorrel Hato and fired a shot that hit the post, with Leandro Andrade scoring on the rebound. Qarabağ continued to apply pressure, and Hato’s poor first half worsened when he lost possession, allowing Andrade to deliver a cross that Hato blocked with his hand inside the penalty area. Marko Janković then sent Robert Sánchez the wrong way from the resulting penalty, giving the hosts the lead at halftime.
The Horsemen’s lead lasted until the eighth minute of the second half, when Alejandro Garnacho tried a square pass that Kevin Medina intercepted, but the ball was quickly recovered by the Argentinian, who then scored into the bottom corner of Mateusz Kochalski’s goal. The home goalkeeper suddenly had a busy time, making a good save from an Enzo Fernández shot as Chelsea’s halftime substitutions began to have the desired effect.
Five minutes before the end, Facundo Buonanotte believed he had scored with a 25-yard strike, but it curved agonizingly wide at the last second. In added time, Oleksiy Kashchuk and Garnacho each missed clear chances, but the draw means Gurban Gurbanov’s team has avoided losing to English opponents for the eighth time, while it marks only the fourth occasion in 24 international matches under Maresca that Chelsea have failed to win.
