We famously defeated Arsenal 4-1 in Baku in the 2019 Europa League final, the season after we had met Qarabag in the Champions League group stage. The Blues ran out 6-0 victors at the Bridge, and 4-0 winners away from home.

This season will be Qarabag’s first since then playing in the Champions League proper, and Chelsea will provide the opposition on Wednesday 5 November. Here we find out more about the most successful club in Azerbaijan…

Factfile

Full name: Qarabağ Futbol Klubu
Country: Azerbaijan
City: Aghdam, but have played in Baku since 1993 because of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
Formation: 1951 (as Mehsul)
Major honours: 12 Azerbaijan Premier League titles (most recently 2025), eight Azerbaijan Cups (most recently 2024)
Head coach: Gurban Gurbanov

2024/25 league finish: 1st
Stadium: Azersun Arena (for domestic matches), Baku Olympic Stadium and Tofiq Bahramov Stadium (for European matches)
Colours: Black and white
Nickname:Atlılar (The Horsemen)
Rivals: Neftci

Champions League history

Qarabag first entered the Champions League qualifying rounds in 2014/15, where they were knocked out by RB Salzburg after beating Maltese side Valletta 5-0 on aggregate.

It was a similar story in the next two years, but in 2017 they defeated Copenhagen on away goals in the play-off round to become the first team from Azerbaijan to advance to the group stage. They impressively drew home and away with Atletico Madrid, but lost twice to us and Roma.

Since then, the Horsemen have competed in the qualifying rounds in all but one season. This year they defeated Ferencvaros 5-4 on aggregate in the play-off to progress to the competition proper for the first time in eight years.

2024/25 season

Qarabag maintained their stranglehold on Azerbaijani football by winning their 11th league title in the past 12 seasons, finishing 15 points clear of second-placed Zira. However, Qarabag suffered a shock defeat to Sabah in the Cup final, losing 3-2 after extra time.

On the continent, they lost 5-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League play-off round, dropping into the league phase of the Europa League. There, they lost seven of their eight fixtures to finish 36th and bottom of the table. Qarabag’s solitary victory was an impressive scalp, however - they beat eventual semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt 2-1 in Norway.

2025/26 season so far…

Qarabag began the defence of their title with a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Sumgayit and responded by beating Karvan 2-0 on the road.

In the Champions League, they navigated past Shelbourne (4-0 on aggregate) and then Macedonian side Shkendija (6-1 on aggregate) before facing Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros. Qarabag won 3-1 in Budapest, having trailed, and survived a spirited fightback from the Hungarians in Baku to progress 5-4 on aggregate after a 3-2 defeat on the night.

Current squad

Abdellah Zoubir, a French attacking midfielder, has been with Qarabag since 2018 and is the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time. Captain Badavi Guseynov played against us at Stamford Bridge and is approaching 400 appearances since his arrival in 2013. Seven of Azerbaijan’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers play for Qarabag.

Notable former players

Maksim Medvedev (pictured top with Willian) is the club’s record appearance maker with 552 games between 2006 and 2024. He scored an own goal at Stamford Bridge. Brazilian forward Juninho joined Flamengo this summer for a club record sale. Ansi Agolli was a key member of Albania’s Euro 2016 squad.

Previous Champions League meetings

2017/18 group stage

Chelsea 6-0 Qarabag
Qarabag 0-4 Chelsea

You can be at all four of our Champions League home games with a Club Chelsea League Phase Bundle. Explore the package options here!