Overview
- The Champions League league‑phase match kicks off Wednesday at 17:45 GMT at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 with streaming on discovery+, and available via Paramount+ in the U.S., SonyLIV in India, and TUDN/UniMás in Spanish-language markets.
- Both teams sit on six points from three games, with Chelsea chasing a third straight European win and Qarabag buoyed by defeats of Benfica and Copenhagen before losing at Athletic Club.
- Chelsea’s traveling group has been named, but Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Benoît Badiashile and Dário Essugo remain out, and Joao Pedro is available again after serving a European suspension.
- Coverage and previews indicate Maresca is likely to rotate to manage travel and a congested schedule, with youngsters or fringe players such as Estevão, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu among those tipped for minutes.
- Qarabag’s rise under 17‑year coach Gurban Gurbanov contrasts with their record against English clubs, as they have yet to claim a point in seven meetings, while a Chelsea win would bolster positioning for a favorable knockout route.