Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Qarabağ FK
Qarabağ made a bright start to the tournament — wins over SL Benfica (3:2) and Copenhagen (2:0) showed they can beat experienced opponents. However, the defeat to Athletic Bilbao (1:3) in Bilbao brought them back to reality: the defence could not cope with the high tempo and pressing. At the same time, the hosts score in every group-stage match, but against English clubs they traditionally have no chance — seven defeats in a row and not a single goal in the last six meetings. Given fatigue and a congested schedule, maintaining the tempo against the favourites will be extremely difficult.
Chelsea
Chelsea quickly recovered after the opening defeat to Bayern Munich (1:3). In London they beat SL Benfica (1:0) and AFC Ajax (5:1). The team have improved their pressing and look more reliable at the back, though they still make positional errors. The league win over Tottenham Hotspur (1:0) boosted confidence, and a victory at the Baku Olympic Stadium could move the team into the top eight of the combined standings. They have the deeper squad, freshness and experience of European trips, including the emphatic win over Arsenal (4:1) in the UEFA Europa League final in 2019 at the same stadium.
Qarabağ FK vs Chelsea FC Prediction
The difference in quality and squad depth is clear. Qarabağ can create moments, but Chelsea’s stability and tempo are too high. The visitors should control the match from the start and settle it by half-time. The teams already met in the UEFA Champions League in 2017, when Chelsea won twice with an aggregate score of 10:0.
