Ruthless Chelsea Equal Their Best UCL Record, Hammer Qarabag 6-0

Davide Zappacosta scored a spectacular goal and Michy Batshuayi scored twice as Chelsea thrashed Champions League debutants Qarabag 6-0 on their return to European competition yesterday.

The Blues - who did not qualify last season - rested several firstteam players for the visit of the Azerbaijani champions, but still won with ease.

Pedro opened the scoring with a 20-yard curler from Willian’s lay-off.

Italy right-back Zappacosta, on his first Blues start, ran 50 yards down the right wing, before sending over a cross that flew past Ibrahim Sehic.

Cesar Azpilicueta headed home a third after the break from Cesc Fabregas’ cross.

Willian hit the crossbar, and substitute Tiemoue Bakayoko scored his first Blues goal with a deflected shot from close range.

Batshuayi then scored twice in the final 15 minutes - firing in from outside the box after being picked out in space by Bakayoko and then scrambling home Zappacosta’s cross.

The win, Chelsea’s joint biggest in the Champions League, was always likely to be the easiest game in the group, with Roma and Atletico Madrid the other two teams in Group C. Those sides drew 0-0 in Rome’s Olympic Stadium.