When Chelsea FC take on BATE Borisov tomorrow night in Belarus, one should expect to see a few first team regulars, alongside a host of fringe players, in the first team Maurizio Sarri places on the pitch.
With Eden Hazard included in the travel squad, we should expect the Belgian to play at least 60 minutes. Hazard has made just one substitute appearance since October 20. Let’s take a look at who else might be in the starting 11 with the 27-year-old.
You got to include Ruben Loftus-Cheek here, as he had a hat trick in the reverse fixture and his opportunities have been limited due to a very crowded midfield.
The Bank Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction (4-3-3)
Attack: Willian, Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard
Midfield: Mateo Kovacic, Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Defense: Davide Zappacosta, Andreas Christensen, Gary Cahill, Emerson Palmieri
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea FC vs BATE Borisov FYIs
Kickoff, TV: Thursday, Nov. 8, 5:55 p.m. (GMT), 12:55 p.m. (EST), BT Sport 2 (UK)
Odds via Oddschecker: Chelsea 7/18, Draw 4-1, BATE Borisov 7/1
Injury Report, Match Preview: go to this link
Prediction: Chelsea 3, BATE Borisov 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.