Chelsea were held 2-2 by Azerbaijan champions Qarabag in the Champions League as Enzo Maresca's young side showed yet more inconsistencies.

The hosts had already beaten Benfica and FC Copenhagen in this year's competition but Chelsea made the perfect start in Baku when the effervescent Estevao opened the scoring.

However, Qarabag played with great intent and physicality which saw them fire in two goals in 10 minutes before the break. Leandro Andrade hammered home after Camilo Durán hit the post and then Marko Jankovic scored from the penalty spot after Jorrel Hato's handball.

Chelsea found a way through after the break - after Maresca had sent on Alejandro Garnacho, Enzo Fernandez and Liam Delap - and it was Garnacho that pounced for 2-2, drilling a low effort home with his left foot.

Player ratings

Qarabag: Kochalski (7), Matheus Silva (7), Mustafazade (7), Medina (8), Jafarguliyev (7), Bicalho (6), Jankovic (7), Leandro Andrade (8), Kady (7), Zoubir (7), Duran (8)

Subs used: Akhundzada (7), Addai (7), Bolt (7), Kashchuk (7)

Chelsea: Sanchez (7), James (7), Tosin (5), Hato (5), Cucurella (6), Santos (6), Lavia (6), Estevao (9), Pedro (6), Gittens (6), George (6)

Subs used: Caicedo (7), Delap (7), Enzo (7), Garnacho (7)

Player of the match: Estevao

With one defeat already in the competition, there is little margin for error for Maresca's side between now and January if they expect to finish in the top eight and avoid February's play-off round.

Maresca defends team selection

Maresca left Caicedo, Fernandez, Delap and Garnacho on the bench but ended the game with all of them on the pitch as the Premier League side fought back from 2-1 down.

The Chelsea boss said: "The intention tonight was to rest Enzo [Fernandez], Moises [Caicedo], Malo [Gusto], to rest more players, because they are not able to play every three days. They need recovery from last season, the Club World Cup affects a lot.

"We try to rotate. When you win, no-one mentioned all that. I know that when we don't win, everyone is focused on that and now I think it's important to recover energy for Saturday and go again."

On the result, Maresca added: "They are a good team, I said already a few days ago, they are a good team, they are doing well. And especially at home, it's difficult."

Inexperience costs Chelsea in Baku

Analysis by Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

No doubt frustration will be the overriding emotion for Maresca after his side conceded a lead to draw with Qarabag, wasting the chance to move into the top eight places.

Chelsea weren't really at the races, caught out by inconsistencies and hindered by inexperience. Maresca made seven changes to his starting selection with an average age of 23y 97d - it did not pay off.

Within the first 10 minutes Caicedo had to be introduced to replace injury-blighted Romeo Lavia, and three more were hooked at half-time to add better balance and quality. Substitutes Delap and Garnacho combined for the equaliser.

This is not yet a side capable of making wholesale changes and producing the same level of performance. Tosin and Jorrel Hato showed their naivety in defence, while Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George were completely ineffective in forward areas. Work to be done for Maresca.

Teams

Qarabag FK Kochalski, Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarquliyev (Bolt 75), Jankovic, Bicalho, Andrade (Bayramov 61), Malinowski (Addai 31), Zoubir (c) (Kashchuk 75), Duran (Akhundzade 61)
Subs Not Used Buntic, Mahammadaliyev, A. Huseynov, B. Huseynov, Mmaee, Kouakou, Jabrayilzade
Booked Silva, Medina
Goals Andrade 29, Jankovic 39 (pen)

Chelsea Sanchez, James (c), Tosin, Hato, Cucurella, Lavia (Caicedo 8), Santos (Fernandez 46), Estevao, Joao Pedro (Buonanotte 71), Gittens (Garnacho 46), George (Delap 46)
Subs Not Used Jorgensen, Merrick, Acheampong, Chalobah, Gusto, Fofana, Guiu
Booked Santos, James, Caicedo
Goals Estevao 16, Garnacho 53

Attendance 30,887

Referee Sebastian Gishamer (Austria)

VAR Manuel Schuettengruber (Austria)