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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca may think twice about resting key players in Wednesday’s Champions League group match against Qarabag. The Azerbaijani side are level on points with Chelsea after three matches, with both teams having won twice and lost once in the competition so far. Maresca will have one eye on Saturday’s league meeting with a Wolves side who will be something of an unknown quantity following the sacking of manager Vitor Pereira, but the Blues’ head coach knows Qarabag have the potential to frustrate his side when the two teams meet at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku. While Maresca cannot yet call on Cole Palmer, who remains injured, striker Liam Delap can come back into the fold after he served his domestic suspension in the win over Tottenham at the weekend following his second yellow card on return from injury in the 4-3 Carabao Cup win at Wolves. Further clarity on the latest fitness issues within his squad will come when Maresca speaks to the media at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon before flying to Azerbaijan. Long-term absentees Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Dario Essugo remain sidelined through injury. Maresca can choose between Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen in goal, and similarly between Malo Gusto or Reece James at right-back. Either can also play in central midfield, though Chelsea have other strong options in that position. Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Acheampong, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; Delap Injured: Palmer, Colwill, Badiashile, Essugo Time and date: 5:45pm BST on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Venue: Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku TV Channel: TNT Sports
