toptop
Davide
Zappacosta scored a wonder goal on his full debut as Chelsea made a resounding
return to the Champions League with a 6-0 win against Azerbaijani champions
Qarabag at Stamford Bridge.
Zappacosta beat goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic with a spinning cross-shot from almost
on the touchline to put Antonio Conte's team two up following Pedro's
fifth-minute 20-yard strike.
Cesar Azpilicueta headed a third early in the second half, before a first
Chelsea goal from Tiemoue Bakayoko and a brace from Michy Batshuayi saw Conte's
side blitz Qarabag with three strikes in 11 minutes.
The tournament debutants from Azerbaijan rarely looked like troubling Thibaut
Courtois in the home goal, with South African centre-forward Dino Ndlovu limited
to speculative efforts from distance as the hosts cruised to a comfortable
opening-day victory in Group B.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (6), Azpilicueta (7), Christensen (6), Cahill
(6), Zappacosta (8), Kante (8), Fabregas (7), Alonso (7), Willian (9), Batshuayi
(8), Pedro (8)
Subs: Bakayoko (7), Hazard (7), Rudiger (6)
Qarabag: Sehic (5), Medvedev (5), Sadigov (5), Rzezniczak (4),
Huseynov (5), Garayev (4), Michel (4), Henrique (7), Almeida de Oliveira (6),
Guerrier (6), Dino (5)
Subs: Diniyev (5), Madatov (6), Elyounoussi (5)
Man of the match: Willian
In what was always likely to be Conte's side's most straightforward group-stage
assignment, Chelsea were ahead inside five minutes, Willian being given space to
meander in-field from a short corner and pick out Pedro who clipped a neat
finish inside Sehic's near post.
Qarabag never looked comfortable in their shape on their Champions League bow
but it was a moment of individual brilliance from Zappacosta which brought the
second goal, firing the ball in from the touchline after a driving run with
Sehic expecting a cross.
The visitors stood off Cesc Fabregas from a Willian quick free kick for
Chelsea's third, allowing the Spaniard to stand the ball up for Azpilicueta to
nod a simple header into the corner as Gurban Gurbanov's side withered under the
onslaught.
Former Birmingham City midfielder Michel misjudged a cross with 20 minutes to
go, cushioning the ball into the path of Bakayoko to slam in his first Chelsea
goal via a deflection, and Qarabag continued to afford Chelsea acres of space
when Batshuayi, in the side in place of Alvaro Morata, strolled through to plant
a fine drive into Sehic's bottom corner.
Team news
Hazard started on the bench for Chelsea, whilst there was still no involvement
for the injured Drinkwater.South African Ndlovu started for Qarabag.
Polish full-back Jakub Rzezniczak dwelt on the ball in the corner to allow a
grateful Zappacosta to steal possession and deliver a low cross for Batshuayi to
grab his second and Chelsea's sixth, as the Belgian made the most of a rare
start as Morata watched from the bench.
Ndlovu tried in vain to cut the deficit when he fired over Courtois' cross bar
from 18 yards in the closing stages, but Qarabag were out of their depth as
Chelsea warmed up for stiffer tests in Group B against Roma and Atletico Madrid.
Opta stats
This was Chelsea's joint-biggest win in the Champions League (6-0 vs Maribor in
October 2014).
Qarabag managed just five touches in Chelsea's penalty area tonight - three
Chelsea players managed as many in the Azerbaijani sides box (Alonso six,
Batshuayi and Zappacosta five).
Davide Zappacosta became the 100th Italian player to score a Champions League
goal (excluding own goals).
Thibaut Courtois' assist for Zappacosta's strike was the first by a keeper in
the Champions League since Fraser Forster set up Tony Watt for Celtic against
Barcelona in November 2012.
The managers
Antonio Conte: "It was a good start, a perfect start for us.To play the first
game [of the] Champions League, then to win with a good result, to score many
goals, to finish the game with a clean sheet. I saw a lot of positive things
tonight.
"Now we have to continue, we have to rest tomorrow and then to start to think
about the next game, a strong game, a tough game against Arsenal [on Sunday].
"To play in the Champions League it means the coach trusts you. My message
tonight was this: I trust all my players, not with only words, but with facts.
If we think like last season to play with only 13 players we are crazy. We have
to improve all these players to try and create a good competition, a positive
competition, between them. It's very important."
Gurban Gurbanov: "The game was very difficult for us. Chelsea played very good.
Chelsea is a favourite for the tournament. We made lots of errors and I accept
we must play even better. But I am satisfied with the way we played."
Man of the match - Willian
The Brazilian play-maker was as mercurial as ever, albeit against a side that
afforded limitless space to Chelsea's midfield. His passing was pinpoint, his
tackling feisty but measured, and he looked a threat every time he received the
ball in the final third. There will be tougher tests for Willian, and for
Chelsea, but against Qarabag everything he did came off.
What's next?
Chelsea travel to Atletico Madrid on September 27, kick-off at 7.45pm.
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
UEFA
Press Kit
Teams
Chelsea Courtois, Azpilicueta (Rudiger 75), Christensen, Cahill
(c), Zappacosta, Kante (Bakayoko 63), Fabregas, Alonso, Willian, Pedro (Hazard
58), Batshuayi
Subs Not Used Caballero, Morata, Moses, Luiz
Booked Cahill
Goals Pedro 5, Zappacosta 30, Azpilicueta 55, Bakayoko 71,
Batshuayi 76, Medvedev 82 (og)
Qarabag FK Sehic, Medvedev, Sadiqov (c) (Madatov 70), Huseynov,
Rzezniczak, Garayev Diniyev 70), Almeida, Guerrier, Michel, Henrique
(Elyounoussi 77), Mediova
Subs Not Used Kaniboloskiy, Amirguliyev, Ismayilov, Yunuszada
Booked
Goals
Attendance 41,150
Referee Tasos Sidiropoulos (GRE)