Chelsea embark on 2,456-mile trip for Champions League tie

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Chelsea travel to Baku on Monday for their Group C tie with Qarabag
Antonio Conte's side play the Azerbaijan side in Baku on Wednesday
The journey takes five-and-a-half hours on the plane and is 2,456 miles each way
But then face Liverpool only three days later in a crucial Premier League clash

Published: 12:27 EDT, 20 November 2017 | Updated: 12:29 EDT, 20 November 2017

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Chelsea have made the gruelling 2,456-mile trip from London to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The Premier League club and their fans will be travelling five-and-a-half hours each way for the Group C tie hoping for all three points against the Azerbaijan champions.

Antonio Conte's side are trailing group-leaders Roma by a point after the Italian team embarrassed them 3-0 at the end of October.

Chelsea are in high spirits despite having to make the long trip to Azerbaijan on Monday

Chelsea fans will make the 11-hour round trip to watch their side play in the Champions League

The reigning Premier League champions looked in high spirits as they boarded the coach to begin the journey on Monday.

However, Conte has hit out at Chelsea's packed fixture schedule as the 48-year-old believes that his side have been unfairly treated when it comes to how much time his side will have to rest between games.

The long-haul trip to Azerbaijan won't help the Chelsea boss either as he will only have three days to prepare his squad before a crucial match with Liverpool this Saturday.

Chelsea have already overcome Qarabag this campaign, after the west London side thrashed the minnows 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in September.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GROUP C


Team	PL	W	D	L	GD	Pts	Form
1. Roma	4	2	2	0	4	8	DWDW
2. Chelsea	4	2	1	1	4	7	WWDL
3. Atletico Madrid	4	0	3	1	-1	3	DLDD
4. Qarabag	4	0	2	2	-7	2	LLDD

Alvaro Morata laughs with his team-mates ahead of their long trip to Azerbaijan

Marcos Alonso doesn't seem impressed with facing a 5,000-mile round trip to Baku

Thibaut Courtois will hope for a clean sheet in Baku as the Blues aim to finish top of the group

Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta and Tiemoue Bakayoko all got on the score sheet in that hammering and will be looking for a repeat as they hunt down Roma's top spot in the group.

N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard were all taken off in the second half during West Brom's 4-0 hammering in a bid to keep them fresh for their tie in Baku.

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid will take on the Group C leaders in the hope that Antoine Griezmann and Co can do the Blues a favour.