Chelsea thrash Qarabag in CL return

Davide Zappacosta scored a marvel goal on his full debut as Chelsea that made an unquestionable return to the Champions League return with a 6-0 win against Azerbaijani champions Qarabag at Stamford Bridge.

Zappacosta defeated goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic with a spinning cross-shot from virtually on the touchline to put Antonio Conte’s team two up following Pedro’s fifth-minute 20-yard strike.

Cesar Azpilicueta goinged a third early in the 2nd half, before a very first Chelsea objective from Tiemoue Bakayoko as well as a brace from Michy Batshuayi saw Conte’s side strike Qarabag with three strikes in 11 minutes.

The competition debutants from Azerbaijan seldom looked like uncomfortable Thibaut Courtois in the residence objective, with South African centre-forward Dino Ndlovu limited to speculative efforts from distance as the hosts cruised to a comfortable opening-day triumph in Group B.

In what was always most likely to be Conte’s side’s most simple group-stage project, Chelsea were ahead inside 5 mins, Willian being given space to meander in-field from a brief edge as well as pick out Pedro who clipped a cool finish inside Sehic’s close to post.

Qarabag never looked comfortable in their form on their Champions League bow but it was a minute of private radiance from Zappacosta which brought the second goal, firing the sphere in from the touchline after a driving run with Sehic anticipating a cross.

The site visitors stood off Cesc Fabregas from a Willian fast free kick for Chelsea’s 3rd, enabling the Spaniard to stand the ball up for Azpilicueta to nod a basic header right 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, supporting the sphere right into the course of Bakayoko to pound in his first Chelsea objective using a deflection, as well as Qarabag remained to afford Chelsea acres of area when Batshuayi, in the side instead of Alvaro Morata, walked through to plant a fine drive into Sehic’s bottom edge.