Hazard to play against BATE

Chelsea stars, Cesar Azpilicueta and Eden Hazard ahead of Europa clash with BATE

Eden Hazard has travelled with Chelsea for Thursday’s Europa League game with BATE Borisov but Marcos Alonso, David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Morata have been left at home.

Hazard missed three matches with a back problem before returning as a substitute in Sunday’s Premier League win over Crystal Palace, but has made the journey to Belarus for the Group L fixture at Borisov Arena.

“For our doctor, there is not any risk, otherwise he would stay in Cobham, of course,” said Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri after the squad arrived in Minsk.

“We thought for him it’s better to play, not for 90 minutes, but to play after two weeks without training.

ALSO READ: No regrets over Juve exit ―Pogba

“In the last match he played only for 30 minutes. Tomorrow [Thursday] the best for him is he will play 45, 50 minutes.”

Morata scored twice against Palace but Sarri has opted to rest his in-form striker.

“He played for three matches in a row,” said the Italian. “I thought it was better for him to stay at Cobham and rest and have only training.”

Cesc Fabregas was a late withdrawal through illness, resulting in N’Golo Kante travelling.