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Chelsea vs BATE confirmed team news: Hazard OUT, Loftus-Cheek starts, Morata on bench
RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK has been handed a chance to impress Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri with start against BATE this evening.
Chelsea vs Bate Borisov: Europa League game preview
Loftus-Cheek has struggled for minutes under Sarri due to the form of Ross Barkley but he will play in the advanced midfield role tonight.
Sarri has made eight changes from the team which drew 2-2 with Manchester United on Saturday.
Eden Hazard is out with a back injury and replaced by Pedro in attack.
Kepa remains in goal but has a completely different back four in front of him.
Davide Zappacosta, Gary Cahill, Andreas Christensen and Emerson all come into the team.
N'Golo Kante and Jorginho are rested so Cesc Fabregas starts.
Willian makes his 250th appearance for the Blues while Olivier Giroud replaces Alvaro Morata.
Chelsea have two wins from two in Group L, and will have one foot in the knockout stages with victory tonight.
Tonight's team to play BATE Borisov... #CFCvBATE pic.twitter.com/D0HUSviv4a
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 25, 2018
Chelsea: Kepa, Zappacosta, Cahill, Christensen, Emerson, Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Kovacic, Pedro, Giroud, Willian.
Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Moses, Kante, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Morata.
BATE: Scherbitski; Rios, Filipovic, Filipenko, Volodko; Hleb, Dragun, Baga; Skavysh, Signevich, Stasevich.
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