Hitting the road: Enzo Maresca faces a 5,000 mile round trip to play against Qarabag
Chelsea Football Newsletter
The Azerbaijani side are level on points with Chelsea after three matches, with both teams having won twice and lost once in the competition so far.
Maresca will have one eye on Saturday’s league meeting with a Wolves side who will be something of an unknown quantity following the sacking of manager Vitor Pereira, but the Blues’ head coach knows Qarabag have the potential to frustrate his side when the two teams meet at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku.
While Maresca cannot yet call on Cole Palmer, who remains injured, striker Liam Delap can come back into the fold after he served his domestic suspension in the win over Tottenham at the weekend following his second yellow card on return from injury in the 4-3 Carabao Cup win at Wolves.
Winger Pedro Neto was absent from training ahead of the match after being substituted with what appeared to be cramp against Tottenham, casting doubt over his involvement in Azerbaijan.
Further clarity on the latest fitness issues within his squad will come when Maresca speaks to the media at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon before flying to Azerbaijan.
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Maresca can choose between Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen in goal, and similarly between Malo Gusto or Reece James at right-back. Either can also play in central midfield, though Chelsea have other strong options in that position.
Andrey Santos spoke at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, indicating that he will start the game.
Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Acheampong, Cucurella; Lavia, Santos; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; Delap
Doubt: Neto
Injured: Palmer, Colwill, Badiashile, Essugo
Time and date: 5:45pm BST on Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Venue: Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku