Garnacho Spares Chelsea From Historic Defeat at Qarabag

Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to rescue Chelsea from a historic loss in Baku, salvaging a 2-2 draw against a determined Qarabag side in the UEFA Champions League.

The substitute winger netted the equaliser early in the second half, preventing Chelsea from becoming the first English club ever to lose to Qarabag. The result leaves both clubs tied on seven points in the Champions League league phase after four matches.

Qarabag’s Unforgettable Night

Qarabag, often dubbed the “refugee club” due to their displacement from Agdam during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, nearly pulled off the biggest win in their European history.

Having never earned a point against English clubs in seven previous meetings, Qarabag were minutes away from breaking that curse—until Garnacho’s intervention.

Match Recap

Chelsea opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Estevao Willian, who cut inside to finish sharply at the near post after a fine move involving fellow Brazilians Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos.

But Qarabag struck back before the half:

• Leandro Andrade volleyed home a brilliant rebound after Camilo Duran’s shot struck the post.

• Marko Jankovic converted a penalty in the 43rd minute, awarded after Jorrel Hato handled a cross in the area.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca reacted swiftly at halftime, subbing in Garnacho, Enzo Fernandez, and Liam Delap. The changes paid off:

• Garnacho capitalised on a defensive error by Kevin Medina, latching onto Delap’s long ball and finishing coolly to make it 2-2 in the 52nd minute.

Despite late efforts from both sides, including near-misses by Garnacho and Danny Bolt, the game ended level, sparking wild celebrations from Qarabag fans—many of whom stayed long after the final whistle, capturing photos of the scoreboard in disbelief.

A Tale of Belief vs Budget

• Chelsea Squad Value: £1.5 billion

• Qarabag Squad Value: Under £22 million

Yet Qarabag matched the English giants stride for stride, led by Gurban Gurbanov, the longest-serving manager in the Champions League (17 years in charge).

Their dramatic 3-2 comeback win at Benfica, followed by a home victory over Copenhagen, and now a point against Chelsea marks Qarabag’s most successful run in Europe.

What’s Next?

Both sides sit on 7 points, eyeing qualification to the Champions League play-off round. Qarabag’s next fixtures include Napoli, Ajax, and Liverpool — a tough stretch, but one they now face with growing belief.

This result further fuels the narrative that Qarabag are no longer just participants in Europe—they’re contenders, breaking stereotypes and challenging elite clubs with heart, organisation, and belief.