Chelsea 6 Qarabag 0: Davide Zappacosta flukes spectacular goal as champions put six past hapless Azerbaijani side
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DAVIDE ZAPPACOSTA scored on his Chelsea debut – while Tiemoue Bakayoko came off the bench to open his account in an easy win at Stamford Bridge against Azerbaijan minnows Qarabag.
It was the first game back in the Champions League for the Blues after a season out of Europe and they were barely tested by the woeful visitors.
Marcos Alonso twice had chances to put Chelsea in front early on – first he had an effort parried away by keeper Ibrahum Sehic and then had a drive blocked by a defender.
But there was no denying the Blues when Willian teed up Pedro and the Spaniard fired home from the edge of the box.
Gary Cahill – back in the Chelsea line-up after his red card at Burnley last month 0 only took 14 minutes to get into the referee’s bad books again … this time booked for a poor challenge on Pedro Henrique.
Qarabag keeper Sehic then pulled off a good save from Willian’s low driven effort and Michy Batshuyi did not quite get to the loose ball in time to slot home.
Cesc Fabregas almost created a second when he dinked a delightful ball over the top of the defence and Davide Zappacosta headed against the bar. The linesman had his flag up for offside but it was only by an inch.
Then came a moment of pure fluke.
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Zappacosta raced down the right flank, bypassing two Qarabag players, before smashing the ball past Sehic from 30 yards.
To the untrained eye, it looked a brilliant strike – but watching it back on TV replays he clearly went to cross and mis-hit it, sending the ball flying into the net.
Chelsea wrapped it up when Fabregas layed a lovely chip over the visitors’ defence for Cesar Azpilicueta to head home.
Eden Hazard entered the fray in the 57th minute as he continues his comeback from injury.
Willian then rattled the crossbar after the Qarabag defence dropped off and invited him to shoot.
Bakayoko added a fourth in the 71st minute after the woeful when Bakayoko punished Qarabag for failing to clear a Hazard cross
And Michy Batshuayi grabbed No5 five minutes later, having all the time in the world to fire home from 16 yards.
Moments later it was six of the best when Batshuayi's strike was bundled into the net by the Qarabag defender.
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