Chelsea's upcoming match against Qarabag is shaping up to be a tactical test, and here's what you need to know! Facing Qarabag at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku, Chelsea's coach, Maresca, is preparing for a potentially frustrating encounter. He's also keeping an eye on the weekend's league match against Wolves, who will be a bit of an unknown quantity after their recent managerial change.
Maresca will provide more details about the team's fitness during his press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Chelsea's Cobham training ground before the team heads to Azerbaijan.
Unfortunately, some key players will be missing. Long-term injuries keep Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and Dario Essugo out of the game.
The Goalkeeping Dilemma: Maresca has a choice to make between Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen in goal. Similarly, he must decide between Malo Gusto and Reece James at right-back. Interestingly, both Gusto and James could also play in central midfield, although Chelsea has other strong options there.
Andrey Santos confirmed his likely start in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
Here's the predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1):
- Goalkeeper: Jorgensen
- Defenders: Gusto, Tosin, Acheampong, Cucurella
- Midfielders: Lavia, Santos
- Attacking Midfielders: Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens
- Striker: Delap
Doubtful: Neto
Injured: Palmer, Colwill, Badiashile, Essugo
Match Details:
- Time and Date: 5:45pm BST on Wednesday, November 5, 2025
- Venue: Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku
- TV Channel: TNT Sports
But here's where it gets interesting... The coach's selections and tactical approach will be crucial. Do you think Maresca will prioritize the league match against Wolves or focus on securing a win against Qarabag? What changes would you make to the starting XI? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
