Davide Zappacosta scored a wonder goal on his full debut as Chelsea made a resounding return to the Champions League with a 6-0 win against Azerbaijani champions Qarabag at Stamford Bridge.
Zappacosta beat goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic with a spinning cross-shot from almost on the touchline to put Antonio Conte’s team two up following Pedro’s fifth-minute 20-yard strike.
Cesar Azpilicueta headed a third early in the second half, before a first Chelsea goal from Tiemoue Bakayoko and a brace from Michy Batshuayi saw Conte’s side blitz Qarabag with three strikes in 11 minutes.
The tournament debutants from Azerbaijan rarely looked like troubling Thibaut Courtois in the home goal, with South African centre-forward Dino Ndlovu limited to speculative efforts from distance as the hosts cruised to a comfortable opening-day victory in Group B.
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In what was always likely to be Conte’s side’s most straightforward group-stage assignment, Chelsea were ahead inside five minutes, Willian being given space to meander in-field from a short corner and pick out Pedro who clipped a neat finish inside Sehic’s near post.
Qarabag never looked comfortable in their shape on their Champions League bow but it was a moment of individual brilliance from Zappacosta which brought the second goal, firing the ball in from the touchline after a driving run with Sehic expecting a cross.
Tiemoue Bakayoko (L) celebrates Chelsea’s fourth goal with Eden Hazard
The visitors stood off Cesc Fabregas from a Willian quick free kick for Chelsea’s third, allowing the Spaniard to stand the ball up for Azpilicueta to nod a simple header into the corner as Gurban Gurbanov’s side withered under the onslaught.
Former Birmingham City midfielder Michel misjudged a cross with 20 minutes to go, cushioning the ball into the path of Bakayoko to slam in his first Chelsea goal via a deflection, and Qarabag continued to afford Chelsea acres of space when Batshuayi, in the side in place of Alvaro Morata, strolled through to plant a fine drive into Sehic’s bottom corner.
Polish full-back Jakub Rzezniczak dwelt on the ball in the corner to allow a grateful Zappacosta to steal possession and deliver a low cross for Batshuayi to grab his second and Chelsea’s sixth, as the Belgian made the most of a rare start as Morata watched from the bench.
Ndlovu tried in vain to cut the deficit when he fired over Courtois’ cross bar from 18 yards in the closing stages, but Qarabag were out of their depth as Chelsea warmed up for stiffer tests in Group B against Roma and Atletico Madrid.
