Football writer Ben Bloom previews Wednesday's UEFA Champions League fixtures involving three Premier League clubs as they play their fourth matches in this season's competition.
Qarabag v Chelsea
Wednesday 5 November, 17:45
Chelsea’s last trip to Azerbaijan came in 2019 when they triumphed over Arsenal to win the UEFA Europa League final.
This repeat of that long journey is expected to provide an easier task against a Qarabag side they have met twice before – in the 2017/18 Champions League group stage – winning by a combined score of 10-0.
Enzo Maresca’s side head into this match off the back of a Premier League victory at Spurs on Saturday, while they have won their last two Champions League matches against Benfica and Ajax after losing to Bayern Munich in their opening fixture.
The 5-1 Ajax thrashing included goals from Estevao Willian, Tyrique George and Marc Guiu, making Chelsea the first team to have three teenage scorers in a Champions League match.
Despite losing all seven of their matches against English clubs – the last six of them without scoring – Qarabag in fact have the same Champions League record as Chelsea in 2025/26, with two wins and one defeat.
The four-time reigning Azerbaijani champions sit second in their domestic top flight, with a match in hand over leaders Turan Tovuz.
Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund
Wednesday 5 November, 20:00
The Erling Haaland show continued on Sunday with two more goals for the Norwegian to take his tally to 26 in all competitions for club and country this season.
He is reunited here with the club he scored 86 times for in 89 appearances, having previously scored against them in his first season after leaving for Man City.
Pep Guardiola’s team are unbeaten in 22 home Champions League group stage/league phases matches, since losing to Lyon in 2018.
They are yet to be defeated in three European games so far this season, sitting seventh in the standings after two wins and a draw.
Much has been said about City’s reliance on Haaland. Indeed, the six goals Guardiola’s side have managed make them the lowest scorers in the current Champions League top 12.
By contrast, Borussia Dortmund have displayed no trouble locating the net, scoring four goals in each of their three European matches against Juventus, Athletic Bilbao and Copenhagen.
Intriguingly, though, they have managed just one goal in each of their last five domestic matches. They currently sit third in the Bundesliga, seven points off the pace.
Newcastle United v Athletic Club
Wednesday 5 November, 20:00
Fortunately for Newcastle United, given the disparity between their home and away form, this match takes place at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe was left frustrated by his side’s lacklustre showing in defeat at West Ham United on Sunday, but they are on a four-game winning streak at home, scoring nine times in the process and conceding only once.
Indeed, dating back to the early 2000s, Newcastle have lost just four of their last 33 home European fixtures.
There was no disgrace in suffering defeat at home to Barcelona in their opening Champions League match this campaign, before going on to beat Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica without conceding.
Athletic are on a poor run, picking up just two victories from their last 11 matches in all competitions.
They lost to Real Sociedad on Saturday to leave them 11th in LaLiga.
However, they did beat Qarabag last time out in the Champions League, following defeats to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.
Howe confirmed a lingering hip issue was a factor in his decision to bring Anthony Gordon off at half-time in the West Ham defeat.
Athletic will be without the vastly experienced Inaki Williams, whose injury in the Qarabag win is likely to keep him out until the new year.