Chelsea will have to visit to Belarus to play against Bate Borisov on Thursday in the Group Stage encounter of Europa League. Chelsea are comfortably situated at the top of the Table in the Europa League and a win against Bate Borisov will be enough for them to qualify to the round of 32 in this competition. So, the Blues will certainly like to ensure their qualification in this match itself. On the other hand, the other three teams of this Group are situated at same points. Paok FK, Mol Vidi FC and Bate Borisov all the three teams have collected three points in three matches so far in this competition. Paok and Mol Vidi FC will face each other in the Group Stage match in the Europa League on the same day. If Bate Borisov can manage to salvage at least one point from this encounter, it will be a huge plus point for them to qualify to the next round of the competition.
Team News :
Bate Borisov :
Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb might start for Bate Borisov in this Europa League encounter against Chelsea. Baga and Dragun will be with him for the home side in the midfield area. Finland International Jasse Tuominen will be the player to watch out for Bate Borisov in this encounter.
Chelsea :
It is very much certain that Maurizio Sarri will make several changes in his side from the starting lineup of Crystal Palace match. Kepa Arrizabalaga has started in all three Europa League matches in this season. So, it is expected that Maurizio Sarri will prefer him to play in the match against Bate Borisov too. On the other hand, Davide Zappacosta and Emerson Palmieri are two players who will be there at both the flanks in the defense for the Blues. Christensen and Gary Cahill are expected to be paired up in the central defense of the Blues in this match against Bate Borisov.
Cesc Fabregas is going to play the role of deep lying midfielder in this match while Jorginho is going to be rested. N’Golo Kante is also expected to be in the bench in this match. The two other positions in the midfield will be occupied by two of Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus Cheek. Ruben Loftus Cheek and Mateo Kovacic might get the nod as Ross Barkley started against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Eden Hazard might be left out from the traveling squad of Chelsea to be completely fit for the encounter against Everton in this weekend. Olivier Giroud is expected to be fit for the match against Bate Borisov. The French centre forward was given rest against Crystal Palace in order to be fit to start against Bate Borisov on Thursday in the Europa League.
Predicted Starting Eleven :
Bate Borisov :(4-3-3)
Goalkeeper : Scherbatsky
Defenders : Rios, Filipovic, Filipenko, Volodko.
Midfielders : Baga, Dragun, Hleb.
Attackers : Skavysh, Tuominen, Stasevich.
Chelsea :(4-3-3)
Goalkeeper : Arrizabalaga
Defenders : Zappacosta, Christensen, Cahill, Emerson
Midfielders : Kovacic, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek.
Attackers : Willian, Giroud, Pedro.
My Predicted Scoreline :
Bate Borisov 0-3 Chelsea.
