BATE v Chelsea - Preview and possible lineups

TEAM NEWS

BATE Borisov: The Belarusian outfit have two long-term absentees, with Vladislav Malkevich and Vladislav Mukhamedov both injured. Baha's side are yet to win in four European home matches this season, and visitors Chelsea will make it difficult for them to get three points. 

Chelsea: Eden Hazard has travelled to Belarus though is unlikely to play 90 minutes, having recovered from an injury. Olivier Giroud should be fit to return for the 'Blues' after missing Sunday's Premier League win over Crystal Palace.

Alyaksey Baha: "The situation in the group is such that any set of points will be a step forward, a step towards the knockout stages. There is, of course, fatigue - both physical and psychological. But they [the players] are ready. And tomorrow there will be such a fight, when someone will have to be left out of the game, someone will have to play, someone will be released as a substitute."

Maurizio Sarri: [On squad fitness] "From our doctor there is no risk, otherwise he [Hazard] would stay at Cobham. In the last match he played 30 minutes, the best for [the BATE game] is that he plays 45 to 50 minutes. [Morata] played for three matches in a row, so I thought it was better to rest at Cobham and have good training. The only problem is Cesc. He had a fever."

FORM

BESOCCER SCORE PREDICTION: 0-3 Chelsea

POSSIBLE LINEUPS

BATE: Scherbitski, Rios, Filipovic, Filipenko, Valadzko, Baha, Drahun, Hleb, Skavysh, Sihnevich, Stasevich.

Chelsea: Kepa, Zappacosta, Cahill, Christensen, Emerson, Kovacic, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro, Giroud, Willian.