Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to rescue Chelsea as his second half equaliser earned the Blues a 2 to 2 draw against Qarabag in their UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday night.
The result prevented what would have been a shocking defeat for the Premier League side in Baku.
Chelsea started brightly and took the lead through Estevao Willian, who finished a well worked move to put the visitors ahead. However, Qarabag responded strongly and levelled through Leandro Andrade before Marko Jankovic converted a penalty to give the home side a 2 to 1 advantage.
Manager Enzo Maresca’s side struggled to maintain control of the game, with Qarabag showing great determination and causing problems for the Chelsea defence. The hosts looked on course for a famous upset, with their fans cheering loudly as they pushed for a third goal.
Garnacho was introduced in the second half and made an instant impact, scoring the equaliser with a composed finish to restore hope for Chelsea. His goal lifted the team’s confidence, but despite increased pressure, the Blues could not find a winner before full time.
The draw means both teams now sit on seven points after four group stage matches, keeping qualification hopes open for the round of sixteen. Chelsea will now need to improve their performances, especially away from home, if they hope to secure progression in the competition.
Despite their huge spending power compared to Qarabag’s modest budget, Chelsea once again failed to secure an away Champions League win, a record that has stretched since October 2022. The result puts pressure on Maresca to deliver victories in their remaining fixtures.
