Chelsea suffered a major blow just 5 minutes into their Champions League match.

Chelsea’s injury worries continued when Romeo Lavia exited the pitch after just 5 minutes against Qarabag, prolonging the physical struggles of the £58 million “injury-plagued” player.

Misfortune struck Chelsea again as midfielder Romeo Lavia sustained an injury just 5 minutes into their Champions League clash with Qarabag on the early morning of November 6 (Vietnam time). This forced coach Enzo Maresca to make an early substitution and raised serious concerns over the Belgian player’s future.

Lavia, making only his fourth start this season, began the match with determination but quickly sat down clutching his leg in pain. He was helped off the pitch by medical staff, replaced by Moisés Caicedo. The sight of the 21-year-old midfielder limping off in Baku left Chelsea fans disheartened, as this was not the first time he had suffered a similar setback since joining Stamford Bridge.

Before the match, coach Enzo Maresca had warned about the need to “protect” Lavia, emphasizing that he was still recovering from a prolonged injury spell. “Our goal is to help Romeo maintain his fitness and prevent any recurrence of injury. He’s currently in a situation similar to Reece James a year ago, requiring careful management in every training session and every minute on the pitch,” the Italian coach explained.

Joining Chelsea from Southampton in summer 2023 for £58 million on a 7-year contract, Lavia was expected to become a key figure in the Blues’ midfield. However, his career in London has been overshadowed by injuries. In the 2023/24 season, he only made one appearance—at the end of December against Crystal Palace—before being sidelined again due to a thigh injury.

According to the Transfermarkt, in 2025 alone, Lavia has suffered three different injuries involving his hamstring, thigh, and muscles, causing him to miss approximately 190 days of play. Notably, since joining Chelsea, he has yet to complete a full 90-minute match in the new team’s colors.

With a congested schedule and a severely weakened squad, Lavia’s long-term absence is a heavy blow to coach Maresca’s plans. Once again, Chelsea faces the daunting challenge of a “injury crisis,” as their young hopeful remains haunted by fitness issues in the medical room.

Related article

Narrow draw in Baku, Chelsea still struggling in the Champions League (Football result) - Chelsea endured a dramatic 2-2 draw at Qarabağ, nearly suffering their second defeat in the Champions League despite taking an early lead through Estêvão’s goal. See more