Chelsea take on BATE Borisov in Belarus tomorrow night aware that they control their own destiny in the UEFA Europa League competition. They have been perfect in group stage play thus far, and a win here puts them through to the knockout round without worry about any other Group L results.
While Eden Hazard was included in the travel squad, Defenders Marcos Alonso, David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger and striker Alvaro Morata did not make the trip. Also, Cesc Fabregas was a late withdrawal due to illness, and he was replaced by N’Golo Kante.
Look for manager Maurizio Sarri to rotate his squad here, as his side currently sits atop the group.
Chelsea defeated BATE Borisov 3-1 in the first ever meeting between these two sides in the preceding match day, and we should expect a similarly lopsided result tomorrow night. BATE have managed just two wins in their last 15 Europa League contests (five draws and eight losses) with a whopping -20 goal differential.
As for Chelsea, they have 13 wins and three draws in 16 competitions this season, having not suffered defeat since the glorified friendly that is the Community Shield back in early August.
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
Chelsea Starting XI Prediction: 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.