Karabakh: Why do minnows attract attention in Europe this season?

After being ridiculed in their first Champions League group stage appearance eight years ago, Azerbaijan’s Karabakh side have proven to be something of a surprise in this season’s competition.

They lost 6-0 to Chelsea and 4-0 at home in a difficult 2017-18 season, picking up just two points from a group that included Atletico Madrid and Roma, earning the derisive nickname “The Carrier Bag”.

Since then, Qarabag have found their feet in Europe, and having equaled Chelsea’s six points from a possible nine in the first three league stage matches, they will have to be taken seriously in Wednesday’s encounter in Baku (17:45).

After frequently faltering in the qualifying rounds of the competition, they achieved a thrilling first win in the main stage with an impressive comeback at Benfica, where they won 3-2 after falling 2-0 down, prompting the Portuguese side to sack Bruno Lage and appoint Jose Mourinho.

Then Karabakh beat Copenhagen 2-0 at home before advancing by one goal against the Spanish team Athletic Bilbao, but lost 3-1.

They tripled their goal tally in the 2017-18 season, raising hopes among fans that they can continue to defy expectations.

If Gorban Gorbanov’s side beats Chelsea, it will be Qarabağ’s most notable win in their 200th European match.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca knows this is a tough test, especially given the nine-hour round trip to Baku and the four-hour time difference.

“To be honest, they are a very good team,” he said. “Well organised, very intense in the way they press and work together as a team, you can see they have been working for many years with the same manager, 17 years, it is unbelievable. It will be difficult especially because they are at home.

“We will arrive [back in London] “Thursday at 6 a.m., we have a game on Saturday night and we have to adapt.”

However, beating the English opposition in Europe has so far been impossible for Qarabag, as they have not even drawn a match in seven attempts. He scored once and conceded 21 goals in defeats to Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool.

In response to a question by BBC Sport, Qarabag coach Gorbanov said: “Unfortunately, we did not beat the English competitor because the English Premier League is the top level, and the strongest league in the world.”

“Karabakh has developed a lot [since last facing Chelsea] But the gap [between the clubs] It’s still dangerous. We have to be able to stand on our feet, play football, fight and give a great game to our fans. Any win would be good for us.

“Welcoming Chelsea to Baku is a good achievement for us and will help in the development of this small footballing country.”