Chelsea Aims for Third Consecutive Champions League Victory Against Qarabag FK
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Chelsea will face Qarabag FK at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, in a UEFA Champions League group stage match. Both teams have accumulated six points from their first three matches, making this encounter pivotal for advancing to the knockout stages.
Team Form and Previous Encounters
Chelsea enters the match following a 1-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur on November 1, 2025. In the Champions League, they rebounded from an initial 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich with consecutive wins: 1-0 against Benfica and a commanding 5-1 over Ajax. Historically, Chelsea has dominated Qarabag, winning both previous encounters during the 2017-18 Champions League season with scores of 6-0 and 4-0.
Qarabag FK has shown resilience in this season’s Champions League, securing a 3-2 away win against Benfica and a 2-0 home victory over Copenhagen. However, they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Athletic Club in their most recent European outing. Notably, Qarabag has lost all seven previous matches against English clubs, conceding 21 goals and scoring only once—a penalty against Tottenham in 2015.
Injury Updates and Squad Rotation
Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has confirmed that winger Pedro Neto will miss the trip to Baku due to a minor calf issue sustained during the match against Tottenham. Midfielder Cole Palmer remains sidelined with a groin injury and is not expected to return before the home fixture against Barcelona on November 25. Defender Benoît Badiashile is anticipated to be available after the upcoming international break, providing a boost to Chelsea’s defensive options.
Given the demanding travel schedule—a nearly 5,000-mile round trip—Maresca emphasized the necessity of squad rotation. The team is set to return to London early Friday morning, with a Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers scheduled for Saturday evening.
Match Details and Broadcast Information
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5:45 p.m. UK time (12:45 p.m. ET) on November 5, 2025. In the United States, the game will be broadcast on UniMas, TUDN, and available for streaming on Paramount+ and Univision NOW.
As both teams vie for a crucial three points, Chelsea aims to extend their winning streak, while Qarabag seeks to make history with their first victory over English opposition in European competition.
