How far can Chelsea go in the Champions League this season?

Chelsea play Qarabag in Baku on Wednesday (live on BT Sport 2 (5pm kick-off), seeking to progress from Champions League Group C.

The Blues won at Atletico Madrid but lost 3-0 in Rome in their most recent European outing, making their prospects difficult to predict.
Here we try to speculate just how far can Antonio Conte’s side go in the competition.

Knockout stage beckons

Chelsea are not there yet after one point in two games with Roma, including a desperately disappointing 3-0 loss in Italy last time out in Europe. But it would take a collapse from this position. A win at Qarabag, or even a draw if Atletico drop points against Roma, will be enough to advance. Chelsea beat the Azerbaijan side 6-0 in September and although they have improved, having drawn twice with Atletico, the Blues will expect to carry the momentum from wins over Manchester United and West Brom.

Chelsea enter matchday five one point behind Roma in Group C after ceding the initiative to the Italians. The Blues could still top the group but finishing first is no guarantee of an ‘easier’ last 16-tie. However, that could also play to Chelsea’s favour. If, for example, two-time defending champions Real Madrid were drawn against Paris St Germain or Juventus, one of the favourites would be eliminated. That could open up the competition somewhat.

Priorities shifting

(Nick Potts/PA)

Antonio Conte has already said more than once he believes Chelsea need to improve upon last season’s 13-league game winning run to have any hope of catching and overhauling early pacesetters Manchester City. If that prospect becomes more distant over the hectic festive period – and Conte has repeatedly bemoaned fixture congestion with his small squad – then Chelsea’s priorities could shift. There is plenty of time before the Champions League resumes in February for domestic prospects to become clearer.

History repeating?

(Owen Humphreys/PA)

The last time Chelsea had an Italian manager in the Champions League they won it. Roberto Di Matteo was a caretaker boss, stepping into the void created by Andre Villas-Boas’ sacking and, within two months, cemented his place in Chelsea folklore by winning on a memorable night in Munich in May 2012. Chelsea surprised many on that occasion and did so last season to win the Premier League in Conte’s first season. It is possible they could shock Europe again.

Euro stars

In Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard, Chelsea have two players who would get into almost every team in Europe. And the pair have developed a fine understanding, albeit they have had few opportunities to demonstrate it. The first occasion was at Atletico – and if that performance has been mentioned a few times here it is because it was a glimpse of the potential for that partnership. With N’Golo Kante’s athleticism and intelligence and Cesc Fabregas’ guile, plus a defensive unit which showed its miserly qualities last season, Chelsea have the talent to go far in Europe.