Garnacho Spares Chelsea From Shock Champions League Loss in Baku

Published: 06 November 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Chelsea escaped with a 2-2 draw against Qarabag in Baku, a result that felt more like relief than reward after a chaotic and uneven performance from Enzo Maresca’s heavily rotated side. What was expected to be a straightforward night against the Azerbaijani champions turned into a tense and humbling affair, as the Premier League giants came dangerously close to one of their most embarrassing European defeats in years.

It was Alejandro Garnacho who salvaged Chelsea from disaster, his crisp strike from the edge of the area sparing the London club a humiliating loss and rescuing a point that may yet prove vital in their Champions League campaign. Yet there was no mistaking the overall tone of the evening — frustration, fatigue, and flashes of panic as Maresca’s experimental lineup struggled to contain Qarabag’s high-energy, free-flowing football.

From the outset, Chelsea appeared disjointed. Maresca, perhaps wary of fixture congestion and eager to rest his key players ahead of a demanding domestic schedule, made seven changes to his starting XI. What followed was an exhibition in imbalance and inconsistency. Without the leadership of Moisés Caicedo or the composure of Enzo Fernández in midfield, Chelsea lacked rhythm and control. They were stretched at the back, wasteful in possession, and visibly shaken by the ferocity of Qarabag’s pressing and the electrifying noise from the stands.

The atmosphere in the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium was electric, with more than 30,000 home fans roaring their team forward. Their passion mirrored the intensity of Qarabag’s play. Under the guidance of long-serving coach Gurban Gurbanov, the Azerbaijani champions have developed into one of Europe’s most enterprising underdogs — brave in possession, bold in their transitions, and technically sharp in tight spaces. Against a youthful Chelsea side with an average age of just 23 years and 97 days, Qarabag smelled vulnerability and went for the kill.

Chelsea did take the lead midway through the first half through Estêvão Willian, the Brazilian prodigy whose dazzling footwork and fearlessness once again justified the hype surrounding him. His goal — a beautifully curled finish into the top corner — silenced the raucous crowd briefly, but instead of calming Chelsea, it only seemed to unsettle them further. Mistakes crept in, passes went astray, and the defensive pairing of Jorrel Hato and Tosin Adarabioyo looked increasingly uncomfortable under pressure.

The turning point came late in the half when the inexperienced Hato failed to deal with a long ball, allowing Camilo Durán to break through and strike against the post. Leandro Andrade was quickest to react, smashing in the rebound to make it 1-1. From that moment, Qarabag’s belief grew, and Chelsea’s confidence evaporated.

The second half began with Maresca making sweeping changes, introducing Fernández, Garnacho, and Liam Delap to inject urgency. The Italian’s plan to rest his regular starters had backfired spectacularly, and the adjustments were a desperate attempt to regain control. “They are silly goals to concede,” Maresca admitted later. “We need to manage these situations better. The Club World Cup affected us a lot physically, and some players are still recovering their rhythm.”

Yet even with the changes, Chelsea’s problems persisted. Just minutes after the restart, more defensive chaos handed Qarabag the lead. A hopeful cross from Durán caused panic, Hato failed to clear his lines, and Andrade again punished Chelsea’s hesitancy with a simple finish from close range. The home fans erupted — Qarabag were 2-1 up, and a famous victory was suddenly within reach.

Maresca, usually calm on the touchline, looked visibly agitated. He had already lost Roméo Lavia to an early injury, forcing Caicedo back into the midfield battle he was meant to sit out. Meanwhile, the returning João Pedro — tasked with leading the line — struggled to make an impact before being replaced. It was, by all accounts, a night when everything that could go wrong for Chelsea did.

But just as the game seemed to be slipping away, Garnacho stepped forward. The young Argentine, brought on to inject energy, delivered precisely that. With 15 minutes left, he picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area, steadied himself, and fired low past Qarabag keeper Mateusz Kochalski to make it 2-2. The relief on Chelsea faces was unmistakable, yet even after the equaliser, Qarabag refused to back down.

In the dying minutes, substitute Dani Bolt almost delivered the shock of the tournament, his thunderous shot forcing a full-stretch save from Robert Sánchez in stoppage time. The Chelsea goalkeeper, who had endured a nervy evening, finally produced the kind of intervention his team badly needed. The final whistle was met with applause and cheers from the home supporters, who knew they had pushed one of Europe’s richest clubs to the brink.

For Chelsea, it was another lesson in the dangers of complacency. Their depth, on paper, looks formidable, but performances like this suggest the younger players still have much to learn about consistency and composure at the highest level. Hato’s struggles were especially glaring — the Dutch teenager endured a torrid night, bullied physically and mentally by Qarabag’s relentless forwards. Maresca was ruthless at half-time, removing Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens, and Tyrique George, all of whom had looked overwhelmed.

“The inexperience showed,” Maresca conceded. “We have a lot of young talent, but they need time. Still, we cannot lose focus or intensity in games like this. Europe will punish you.”

The draw leaves Chelsea on seven points from four matches, level with Qarabag, and facing a much tougher road ahead. With Barcelona visiting Stamford Bridge next month, followed by challenging away trips to Atalanta and Napoli, qualification for the top eight of the league phase is far from guaranteed.

Chelsea’s travelling fans, some of whom journeyed nearly 5,000 miles for the match, will feel a mixture of frustration and relief. Their team avoided defeat but failed to convince. Maresca’s gamble to rest his key players backfired, and the performance raised fresh questions about squad depth and tactical cohesion.

Even so, there were positives to take. Estêvão continues to shine, demonstrating remarkable composure for his age, while Garnacho’s impact from the bench reminded supporters of his growing maturity and importance to the squad. “We showed spirit,” Garnacho said post-match. “It wasn’t our best performance, but we didn’t give up. Sometimes, you just have to fight for the result.”

Fight they did, but not convincingly enough. Qarabag’s players left the pitch to a standing ovation from their fans, their performance a testament to passion and discipline. For Chelsea, however, the night in Baku will serve as a warning: reputation counts for little in Europe if application and organisation are missing.

As they flew home to London, Maresca’s side knew they had escaped — barely. They had been outplayed for long stretches by a team with a fraction of their budget and experience. If Chelsea harbour genuine ambitions of a deep Champions League run, they will need to find not only their rhythm but also their humility.