Almost a great opportunity for Florenzi! A thumping pass is fired into the Qarabag penalty area and manages to pick out Florenzi, who brings the ball down quickly and tries to shoot but is closed down by Sadiqov before he's able to do so.
90' +2
Once again, Qarabag try to find joy over on the left flank after Agolli manages to get himself into a good position. The Albanian twists and turns before finally getting a cross away, but Florenzi is there to block the pass with an outstretched leg.
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
89'
Ndlovu goes inches away from equalising! An excellent cross is fired in from the left wing and perfectly picks out Ndlovu, but the striker ends up nodding his headed effort agonisingly wide of the near post. What a chance that was for the home side!
88'
Dani Quintana enters the game and replaces Míchel .
Dani Quintana has come on to take the place of Michel in Qarabag's third and final change.
87'
Space opens up for Florenzi over on the right-hand side of the Qarabag box and allows him to cut inside before shooting, but the substitutes' strike isn't a great one and is easily dealt with by Sehic.
86'
Agolli has impressed since the half-time break, and he's spent plenty of time camped inside the Roma half of the pitch. He bombs down the left wing once again before taking on Manolas, but the Greek defender does well to dispossess the Qarabag man with a well-timed tackle near to the corner flag.
84'
Guerrier immediately gets involved in the thick of the action as he bursts through the middle of the pitch and towards the Roma penalty area. He then does well to set up Elyounoussi inside the box, but the Norwegian's effort on goal is a rushed one and sails high over the crossbar.
82'
K. Strootman enters the game and replaces L. Pellegrini.
Meanwhile, Roma have brought on Kevin Strootman to replace Pellegrini.
Qarabag have made their second alteration of the evening, with Madatov making way for Wilde-Donald Guerrier.
81'
D. Guerrier enters the game and replaces M. Emreli.
Kolarov does well to get himself into a good position deep down the left flank before fizzing a bouncing pass over to the edge of the hosts' box. Dzeko is able to meet it and quickly shoots, but his first-time effort is a scuffed one and bounces comfortably wide of the goal.
Minute
Description
79'
Qarabag embark on another good attacking move as they desperately try to find an equaliser. Ndlovu charges down the right wing and cuts inside before taking on Nainggolan, but it's the Belgian who comes out on top with a well-timed tackle on the edge of the penalty area.
77'
A swinging cross from Agolli curls into the heart of the Roma box and looks set to find Michel in front of goal, but Jesus is just about able to get his head on the ball ahead of the Spaniard to deny him an opportunity to equalise for the home side.
76'
T. Elyounoussi enters the game and replaces Pedro Henrique.
Qarabag have made their first change of the night, with Tarik Elynoussi coming on to replace the goalscorer Henrique.
75'
Nainggolan gets himself into a pocket of space just outside of the Qarabag penalty area and tries to latch onto a chipped pass forward from De Rossi, but it's slightly overhit and fails to find the Belgian.
73'
Big miss by Almeida! Once again, Agolli does well over on the left flank only to lose out to Manolas inside the Roma box. The ball bounces out and looks set to result in a chance on goal for Almeida, who takes a swing but completely mistimes his attempted strike.
71'
An attempted Roma attack breaks down, allowing Qarabag to counter quickly. Agolli flies down the left wing before trying to set up Henrique with a clever pass into the penalty area, but Manolas is there to cut out the danger with a well-timed interception.
69'
The referee has given Madatov one last chance, as the youngster has been flying into several challenges over the last few minutes. He just caught Pellegrini with a slightly mistimed sliding tackle, and it's one that, on another day, could have earned him a yellow card.
67'
D. De Rossi enters the game and replaces M. Gonalons.
It's been a tough and underwhelming night for Gonalons, who makes way for Daniele De Rossi.
65'
Madatov and Radja Nainggolan clash in the air over on the left wing, resulting in a free-kick for Roma in a promising position. Kolarov steps up and curls a cross towards the far post, but it's completely overhit and sails out of play for a throw-in on the opposite flank.
63'
Roma clumsily lose possession in the middle of the pitch, allowing Mahir Madatov to break down the right flank on a blisteringly quick counter-attack. He then cuts inside and tries to shoot from inside the box, but he's unable to do so quickly enough and is eventually dispossessed.
61'
And now Bruno Peres goes close! Dzeko holds up the ball really well as he muscles his way past two Qarabag players on the edge of the hosts' penalty area. He then spins and picks out Peres, who quickly shoots but can't get the better of Sehic at the near post with his rocket of a strike.
59'
Great opportunity for Kolarov! Clever play by Roma sets up Kolarov to shoot from the left-hand side of the Qarabag penalty area, but his thumping effort sails just a few yards over the top of the crossbar.
58'
A. Florenzi enters the game and replaces G. Defrel.
Roma have made their first substitution of the game, with Alessandro Florenzi coming on to replace the ineffectual Defrel.
57'
As was the case at the end of the first half, it isn't quite working for Roma at the moment. It looks as if Eusebio Di Francesco is going to start making some changes as he tries to get his side back on top in the game.
55'
A clever cross in from Medvedev almost finds Ndlovu, but Jesus is just about able to nod the ball out for a corner. Almeida steps up and curls a cross into the heart of the penalty area, where Alisson rushes out to comfortably collect the ball under pressure.
53'
Chance for Pellegrini! After a difficult start to the second period, Roma are able to push forward on their first attacking move since the break. Pellegrini is able to get a shot away from just outside of the box, and it's one that Sehic does well to tip round the post and behind for a corner.
51'
Henrique is almost presented with a great opportunity to get a header away in front of goal thanks to a lovely cross in from the left wing, but Kolarov is there to get to the ball ahead of the Brazilian to deny him the opportunity to test Alisson.
50'
Thumping strike by Michel! The Spaniard wasn't able to get too involved in the game before the break, but he's started the second half really well. He muscles his way towards the penalty area and then unleashes a thumping strike, and it's one that flies just over the top of the crossbar.
49'
More good play by Qarabag sees Ndlovu charge down the right flank and into a pocket of space just outside of the penalty area. He then squares a low cross into the heart of the box, where Henrique attacks the ball but can't quite reach it in front of goal.
47'
Qarabag quickly push forward as they work the ball around really nicely deep inside the Roma half of the pitch. Michel is eventually able to break into the right-hand side of the box before chipping a cross towards Ndlovu, but Alisson is there to collect the ball without too many problems.
46'
We're underway once again!
45' +1
Dzeko almost makes it 3-1! Roma push forward on one final attack before the half-time as they try to re-establish their two-goal lead. A looping cross is fired deep into the penalty area and over to Dzeko, who has a great opportunity to score again but, for some strange reason, decides to leave the ball instead of attacking it.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be just one minute of added time.
43'
M. Gonalons gets yellow.
The referee's yellow card is out once again, and this time it's Gonalons who receives a booking after catching Henrique on the side of the head with a flailing arm. The Brazilian looks to be in a bit of discomfort after that clash.
42'
Great goalkeeping by Sehic! Once again, Defrel breaks through the middle of the Qarabag defence and looks set to unleash a shot, but a heavy final touch lets him down and allows Sehic to rush out and deal with the danger.
41'
Pedro Henrique gets yellow.
Henrique flies into Pellegrini and ends up catching the midfielder with a late challenge, resulting in him becoming the latest player to receive a booking.
40'
Decent save by Sehic! Kolarov steps up and curls a low shot over towards the bottom left-hand corner of the net, but Sehic is there to get a hand on the ball to stop it from resulting in Roma's third goal of the game.
39'
Q. Qarayev gets yellow.
Qarabag clumsily lose possession in the middle of the pitch, allowing Roma to counter-attack quickly through El Shaarawy. It looks as if the forward is going to be able to reach the penalty area, but he's cynically challenged from behind by Qara Qarayev and the Italian side win themselves a free-kick in a dangerous position.
38'
Defrel looks as if he's going to be able to go one-on-one with Sehic after breaking through the Qarabag back line, but his run forward is mistimed and the linesman's flag is quickly raised.
36'
Qarabag are performing far better now than they were earlier in the game, when they were sitting too deep and allow Roma to see all of the ball. Henrique is starting to find plenty of joy over on the right flank, and the visitors' back line are looking nervous as a result.
34'
Almost another chance for Henrique! A lovely pass from Richard Almedia flies over to the right channel and picks out Henrique perfectly. The Brazilian brings down the ball well and takes on Jesus on the edge of the box, but it's the Roma defender who comes out on top with a decent tackle.
32'
Big chance for El Shaarawy! A deep, swinging cross is curled over to the far post and picks out El Shaarawy in a pocket of space, but the forward can't beat Sehic with his downward header and it's tipped behind by the Bosnian goalkeeper.
30'
Vital tackle by Badavi Huseynov! Defrel picks up the ball over on the right wing and quickly cuts inside on a marauding run. He manages to reach the edge of the Qarabag penalty area and tries to shoot, but Huseynov is there to dispossess the Frenchman before he's able to.
28'
Pedro Henrique has scored a goal for Qarabag! Assist by D. Ndlovu.
GOAL! Qarabag have scored their first ever Champions League goal! Once again, Roma shoot themselves in the foot with poor defending just outside of their own box. Gonalons has his pocket picked by Ndlovu and allows the South African to knock the ball over to Henrique, who flicks it up before beating Alisson with a rocket of a volley that sends the crowd into a frenzy.
That was good play by Ndlovu to close down and dispossess Gonalons, but Roma really should have done better in the build-up. They've looked sloppy defensively since doubling their lead.
26'
A defensive mix-up between Jesus and Manolas allows Ndlovu to burst through once again, and this time he unleashes a low shot from the edge of the Roma penalty area that bounces behind for a corner. The set-piece isn't very well executed, however, as the linesman's flag is quickly raised for offside after the ball is sent short.
24'
Gonalons almost increases Roma's lead! A lovely cross is fired in by Pellegrini and finds Gonalons at the near post, but the Frenchman can't quite make decent contact with the ball and sends his glancing header just wide of the far post.
22'
Dino Ndlovu, who has seen very little of the ball so far, is able to charge into the Roma penalty area before winning the home side a corner over on the right. It's fired in low and bounces towards the near post, where Juan Jesus is easily able to clear the danger.
20'
Huge opportunity for El Shaarawy to make it 3-0! Gregoire Defrel is left in a pocket of space over on the right-hand side of the Qarabag box, allowing him to dart towards the byline before squaring the ball across the face of goal. El Shaarawy meets it at the near post, but he can't guide his flicked strike towards Sehic and loses out.
19'
Kolarov is caught by another clumsy challenge over on the left wing, resulting in a free-kick for Roma in a promising position. Once again, the Serbian's cross into the penalty area is a well-placed one, and it's one Sehic elects to punch instead of catching, which almost causes more problems for Qarabag.
17'
Roma's second goal means that, even at this early stage of the game, the victory is as good as theirs. Qarabag are really struggling to deal with the Italian side every time they push forward, and they're still sitting incredibly deep inside their own half of the pitch.
15'
E. Džeko has scored a goal for Roma! Assist by S. El Shaarawy.
GOAL! It's another for Roma! El Shaarawy chips a looping pass up into the air and over to Dzeko on the right-hand side of the hosts' box. The striker easily out-muscles Sadiqov and chests the ball down before shooting, and it's a thumping strike that leaves Sehic with no chance as it flies into the back of the net.
El Shaarawy's pass arguably should have been dealt with by the Qarabag back line, but, not for the first time this evening, the home side didn't do enough to deal with Dzeko in front of goal.
13'
Chance for Rashad Sadiqov! The corner is a good one, and it's poked back to Sadiqov in acres of space on the edge of the penalty area. The captain quickly shoots, but his strike is closed down before it can test Alisson.
12'
Stephan El Shaarawy and Kolarov play a short corner, but it's poorly executed and allows Qarabag to counter-attack quickly down the right wing. Pedro Henrique flies deep into the Roma half of the pitch before eventually trying to curl a cross into the box, but it deflects behind for the home side's first corner of the game.
11'
Aleksandar Kolarov bursts down the left flank before being bundled over by a poor challenge from Maksim Medvedev, resulting in a free-kick for Roma in a very dangerous position. Pellegrini steps up and shoots, but his underhit effort bounces behind for a corner.
9'
Qarabag are sitting incredibly deep, which is allowing Roma to spend plenty of time in possession. Pellegrini embarks on a great run as he darts past two defenders and into the penalty area, but Sehic is there to collect the ball at the midfielder's feet near to the byline.
7'
K. Manolas has scored a goal for Roma! Assist by L. Pellegrini.
The second corner is met by Ibrahim Sehic, who can only punch the ball as far as Lorenzo Pellegrini. The midfielder quickly unleashes a cross-cum-shot that flies over to the far post, where Kostas Manolas is easily able to nod the ball into the back of the net with a diving header.
Pellegrini's ball into the box was a good one, but he shouldn't have been able to pick it up from the corner. Sehic decided to punch the ball instead of collecting it, and his poor clearance allowed Roma to grab themselves an early lead.
6'
A low cross in from the set-piece looks set to find Maxime Gonalons at the near post, but the Frenchman is beaten to the ball and Roma have to settle for another corner over on the right flank.
5'
Roma patiently pass the ball around deep inside the Qarabag half of the pitch as they try to find an opening. Edin Dzeko is eventually able to muscle his way into the penalty area before trying to get a shot away, but Agolli is there to dispossess the striker before poking the ball behind for a corner.
3'
After an even start to the game from both sides, it's Qarabag who are able to push forward on the first attack of the game. A low cross is fired in from Ansi Agolli and picks out Michel, who quickly gets a shot away but can't guide is past Juan Jesus inside the Roma box.
1'
We're off! Qarabag gets us underway, attacking from right to left.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Champions League group stage game between Qarabag and Roma at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
Qarabag’s first ever game in the group stage of the Champions League couldn’t have gone much worse, as they were mercilessly thrashed 6-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. The Azerbaijani minnows only managed two shots on target during an evening to forget in west London, and it’s a defeat that has left them bruised heading into their first home game of the campaign.
Qarabag managed to reach the group stage of the Europa League in each of the past three seasons but were unable to progress, although they did enjoy some impressive results here in Baku. Fiorentina, Inter and Monaco all failed to leave with victories, highlighting the fact that, while they might be the group’s underdogs, the Horsemen are capable of pulling off an upset on home soil.
The opening week of group stage action proved to be a slightly more enjoyable one for Roma, who managed to pick up a decent point at home to Atletico Madrid. However, it was a slightly frustrating night for Eusebio Di Francesco’s men, as, like Qarabag against Chelsea, they struggled in front of goal, leaving them without a win in seven Champions League games.
Roma haven’t managed to find much joy on the road in recent years, with their last away win in the Champions League coming way back in November 2010 against Basel. The Italian side were handed a tough group the last time they reached this stage of the competition in the 2015-16 season, but since that night in Switzerland the likes of CFR Cluj, CSKA Moscow and BATE have all managed to frustrate the Giallorossi on the road.
There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this today…
Roma substitutes: Skorupski, Florenzi, Fazio, Under, Gerson, De Rossi, Strootman.
Roma XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Peres, Manolas, Jesus, Kolarov; Pellegrini, Gonalons, Nainggolan; Defrel, Dzeko, El Shaarawy.
Gurban Gurbanov has decided to make two changes to the Qarabag side that started the defeat against Chelsea, with Ansi Agolli and Mahir Madatov coming into the starting line-up to replace Jakub Rzezniczak and Wilde-Donald Guerrier, respectively.
Meanwhile, Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco has made three alterations to the team that featured in their last Champions League outing, with Kevin Strootman, Daniele De Rossi and Diego Perotti making way for Lorenzo Pellegrini, Maxime Gonalons and Stephan El Shaarawy.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
That was a mixed first half for Roma, who enjoyed a thoroughly easy opening 15 minutes before being guilty of complacency. It looked as if the game was as good as over after they went 2-0 up through Dzeko, but they lost their concentration and allowed Qarabag to get back into the game. The Giallorossi will have to improve if they're to avoid any more slip-ups after the break.
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: QARABAG 1-2 ROMA
That was a lot closer than Roma would have been hoping, but they'll nonetheless be pleased that they're able to leave Baku with three points. It was a tough and nervy night for the Italian side, who started brilliantly before the home side got back into the game. From then onwards, the Giallorossi were far from their best, but they were just about able to hold on to pick up their first group stage win of the campaign.
Commentary
More…