Chelsea
go in search of a sixth Europa League win in six when they travel to MOL
Vidi on Thursday.
The Blues have already qualified for the last 32 top of Group L and head
coach Maurizio Sarri has rested a host of first-choice players for the trip
to Budapest.
Jamie Cumming, 19, and George McEachran, 18, are part of the squad, with
Sarri likely to rotate his options and give opportunities to Ethan Ampadu
and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
On Ampadu, poised to play in defence, and Hudson-Odoi, who could start as a
wide front man, Sarri said: "The future for both is a very important future.
"Of course they have to improve every day in every way, physically and
tactically. Technically they are very good."
Hungarian champions Vidi, who lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Matchday 2, can
join Chelsea in the round of 32 by avoiding defeat, but qualification is out
of their hands.
Team news
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and
N'Golo Kante have all been rested and not travelled to Hungary.
Midfielder Mateo Kovacic and defenders Gary Cahill and Victor Moses are out
injured.
Opta stats
MOL Vidi have hosted an English side in European competition just once
before, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the 1984/85 UEFA Cup quarter-final
second leg, before progressing on penalties.
Chelsea won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in October, having four times as
many shots as MOL Vidi (28-7).
Chelsea are on a run of eight straight wins in the Europa League, last
tasting defeat in the second leg of the quarter-finals in 2013, losing 3-2
against Ruben Kazan but progressing to the semi-finals (5-4 on aggregate).
Chelsea have averaged the best passing accuracy (90.9 per cent), highest
possession (70 per cent) and the most successful passes per game (665).
Chelsea have attempted the most shots in the UEFA Europa League so far this
season (118) but 35 teams have a better shot conversion rate than the Blues
(8.5 per cent), who have scored with just 10 of these shots.
Olivier Giroud sealed Chelsea's place in the round of 32 with the winner at
BATE on Matchday 4
Olivier Giroud sealed Chelsea's place in the round of 32 with the winner at
BATE on Matchday 4
Charlie's prediction
This is a night where Maurizio Sarri can experiment so why not play Olivier
Giroud and Alvaro Morata together and see how they get on? Cesc Fabregas
will come in so it'll still be a strong side as they're all fighting for
starting places now. The win over City will give them all some belief and
it'll be another comfortable European night for them.
Charlie predicts: Chelsea to win 2-0 and Cesc Fabregas to score (Sky Bet
odds HERE)
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