Chelsea face a trip out to Azerbaijan on Wednesday to take on the weakest side in this season’s competition, Qarabag. Chelsea won the reverse fixture 6-0 back on match day one and Antonio Conte will be confident of a repeat performance at the Baku National Stadium on Wednesday night. He will be well aware that Qarabag are decent at home though, having held Atletico Madrid to a 0-0 draw last time out and with Roma only picking up a narrow 2-1 victory in Baku.
Champions League – Bakı Olimpiya Stadionu, Baku– Wednesday 22nd November – 17:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 19/4 at Ladbrokes |
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Qarabag FK
ChelseaQarabag
Qarabag are the first team from Azerbaijan to reach the Champions League group stages and whatever happens in their final two group games, they can be proud of their record in what is arguably the toughest group in the competition, featuring Chelsea, Roma and Atletico Madrid. If you take out their 6-0 loss to Chelsea, they have only conceded three goals in the other three matches and have picked up two draws in those games.
Chelsea
Chelsea were poor in their last Champions League game, losing 3-0 to Roma, but since then they have been in good form domestically. They were hugely impressive in Saturday’s 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in a game where Eden Hazard looked at his brilliant best. Antonio Conte has already spoken of his disgust at a fixture list which sees them away in Azerbaijan on Wednesday before taking on Liverpool on Saturday, and we could well see the Italian manager leave a number of his star players at home for this game.
Talking Points
- Chelsea can progress to the next round with a win if Atletico Madrid fail to beat Roma.
- In the last 10 games (all competitions), Qarabag have only lost once at home – in their CL fixture against Roma (2-1) – and have a record of W7, D2, L1.
- Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata have been in superb form in the last five games, scoring five times, assisting a further three more and winning three Man of the Match awards between them.
Prediction
Chelsea trounced Qarabag 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first game in the group and whilst I think Chelsea will win again on Wednesday, I don’t think the scoreline will be anywhere near as one sided. Qarabag learnt a lot from that defeat and that coupled with them being solid at home means that I think Chelsea will win this one 2-0 or 3-0.
Betting Tips
Chelsea start this game as 1/3 favourites to pick up the win, whilst an unlikely home victory for Qarabag is priced up at 11/1, with the draw available at 19/4. I do think Chelsea will win, but those odds of 3/10 aren’t too appealing to me, the 1/1 on Chelsea to win and BTTS (NO) looks a much better bet to me as I can’t see Qarabag finding the net in this one.
Chelsea to win and BTTS (NO) – 1/1 (Ladbrokes)