When it comes to Chelsea's upcoming clash against Qarabag, the spotlight is on both strategic lineup choices and the ongoing question marks surrounding player fitness. And here's where it gets interesting—Chelsea's manager, Maresca, is not only contemplating tonight's starting eleven but also keeping one eye on Saturday’s crucial Premier League fixture against Wolves. That game is a bit of an unknown territory right now, especially after Wolves recently dismissed their manager, Vitor Pereira. This adds an extra layer of unpredictability for Chelsea, who need to stay sharp.
Maresca is aware that Qarabag could cause some serious frustration if Chelsea are not fully prepared. The match takes place at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku, a venue that might favor the home team’s tactics and style. The Italian coach is expected to provide more clarity on squad fitness and availability during his press conference at Chelsea’s training base in Cobham on Tuesday afternoon. Following that, he’ll head to Azerbaijan to finalize preparations.
In terms of injuries, Chelsea continues to be without key long-term absentees—Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and Dario Essugo—who remain sidelined due to ongoing issues. These absences inevitably impact team selection and tactics.
Looking at the possible starting lineup, Maresca has a few options. He could choose between Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen for the goalkeeper position. At right-back, the choices are Malo Gusto or Reece James, both capable of slotting into the role. Interestingly, either Gusto or James could also be deployed in central midfield, although Chelsea has other strong candidates in that area, providing tactical flexibility.
During the pre-match press conference, Andrey Santos confidently indicated that he expects to be in the starting eleven, which suggests the young Brazilian midfielder will likely feature prominently.
Here's a predicted Chelsea lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
- Goalkeeper: Jorgensen (or Sanchez, still to be confirmed)
- Defenders: Gusto (or James), Tosin, Acheampong, Cucurella
- Midfielders: Lavia, Santos
- Attacking Midfield/Forwards: Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens
- Striker: Delap
There’s also a note of caution—Neto is listed as doubtful, while Palmer, Colwill, Badiashile, and Essugo remain out injured.
The match kicks off at 5:45 pm BST on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, and will be broadcast on TNT Sports. Fans and neutrals alike will be watching to see how Chelsea navigates this challenging away fixture, with plenty of questions about squad depth and tactical adaptability. And this is the part most people miss—could this game reveal new tactical insights or squad surprises that might shape Chelsea’s future? Do you think Maresca's choices will be spot-on, or are there surprises lurking? Share your thoughts below—this one promises to be anything but dull.
