Chelsea's ambitions for direct passage to the Champions League knockout stages took a significant blow in Azerbaijan as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 stalemate against Qarabag.
The Blues currently occupy a playoff position with seven points from four matches, having managed just two victories in the competition thus far.
Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho emerged from the bench to spare his side's blushes with a crucial second-half strike that prevented what would have been a humiliating defeat.
The result represents a missed opportunity for Enzo Maresca's men, who desperately required maximum points from what appeared their most straightforward remaining fixture.
Enzo Maresca made the wrong selection decision with Jorrel Hato having a nightmare evening
|REUTERS
The Italian coach made a number of bizarre line-up calls, including bringing in Tosin Adarbioyo and Jorrel Hato as the central defensive partnership despite their poor form.
Their failure to secure victory in Baku places considerable pressure on upcoming encounters, particularly the daunting visit of Barcelona to Stamford Bridge on 25 November.
Brazilian sensation Estevao Willian had provided the visitors with an ideal start, converting expertly after receiving a pass from compatriot Andrey Santos in the 16th minute.
The 18-year-old's composed finish at the near post marked his fourth goal across all competitions this campaign and his second consecutive Champions League strike.
However, the advantage proved short-lived as the Azerbaijani champions demonstrated why they have emerged as this season's surprise package in Europe's premier competition.
Estevao Willian is now Chelsea's joint top goalscorer
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Camilo Duran's enterprising run culminated in his effort striking the woodwork, with Leandro Andrade alert to convert the rebound in the 29th minute.
The hosts completed their comeback ten minutes later when Marko Jankovic dispatched a penalty with authority, sending Robert Sanchez the wrong direction after Hato's handball infringement.
The Dutch defender's nightmare evening began when he failed to protect possession adequately, allowing Duran to capitalise and create the equalising opportunity.
"Looked a bit shaky and uncertain early on, and that only got worse," noted one observer, as Hato's struggles intensified throughout the first half.
His misery was compounded when he surrendered possession near his own penalty area before inadvertently blocking Duran's cross with his arm, gifting Qarabag their penalty.
Marc Cucurella proved Chelsea's most reliable defensive presence, making a crucial intervention inside his six-yard area to prevent an earlier Qarabag opportunity.
The defensive frailties extended beyond Hato, with Tosin and Reece James both appearing vulnerable against Qarabag's enterprising attackers.
Qarabag took the lead in shock circumstances, going into the second half 2-1 up
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Maresca's triple substitution at the interval proved decisive, with Garnacho requiring merely seven minutes to restore parity through a fierce left-footed effort from inside the penalty area.
The former Manchester United player's intervention arrived at a critical juncture, yet Chelsea's inability to capitalise on subsequent opportunities left them vulnerable.
With just seven points accumulated from their opening quartet of fixtures, the Blues find themselves outside the automatic qualification positions that guarantee progression to the round of 16.
Alejandro Garnacho equalises for Chelsea 🙌
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It's game on in Baku 🔥
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Their European campaign has yielded victories solely against struggling Ajax and Benfica, alongside defeat at Bayern Munich and this disappointing stalemate.
The failure to defeat Qarabag, whose entire transfer expenditure since 2020 totals less than £7 million, transforms the Barcelona encounter from a prestigious fixture into a must-win proposition for Chelsea's European aspirations.