Chelsea vs BATE: Preview, team news, broadcast listings

Topics: TV Schedules, Chelsea, BATE, UEFA Europa League

LiveSoccerTV's match preview provides team news, broadcast listings and head-to-head analysis for Chelsea's Europa League tie vs. BATE kicking off at Stamford Bridge at 15:00 EST/20:00 BST.

Current form: Chelsea vs BATE

Chelsea come into this game still unbeaten in the Premier League, and Ross Barkley's late goal secured a 2-2 draw with Manchester United in a highly entertaining clash at Stamford Bridge last weekend. The Blues are just two points behind Manchester City and Liverpool and sit in third place, and will be looking to maintain their perfect run in the Europa League as they welcome BATE to their home ground on Thursday evening.

Although this is not Chelsea's first crack at the Europa League, this is the Blues' first foray into the Europa League group stages. The London giants dropped down into the knockout rounds after crashing out of the Champions League back in the 2012/2013 term and went on to win the Europa League in 2013, and now will be hoping to try to win the trophy for the second time in the club's history. So far, it's been six points out of six, and while they have not been setting the pitch alight, that will not matter to Maurizio Sarri, who has opted to rotate his squad for some of these fixtures. Two narrow 1-0 wins have gotten the job done against PAOK and Eastern European side Vidi and certainly he will be happy to see the same result against BATE.

While the visiting side are dominant in their domestic league, they have a poor record against English opponents, and were on the receiving end of a hiding the last time they showed up in London. Arsenal famously cruised to a very comfortable 6-0 win over them last term, and Chelsea certainly will hope to replicate that - although BATE naturally will have taken some learning lessons from their worst ever away defeat in their club's history and will be desperate to avoid another humilating loss in England's capital.

Current position: Chelsea vs BATE

Here is how Chelsea and BATE compare ahead of the two sides' meeting at Stamford Bridge on matchday three of the 2018/2019 Europa League. Chelsea, naturally sit on top of their quartet, and although the Blues have not scored the most goals - that honor belongs to PAOK - Sarri's side have yet to concede a single goal so far in their debut Europa League group stage campaign.

Team news: Chelsea vs BATE

As per usual, Sarri will be expected to tinker with his squad for this game. Although he has heavily used Jorginho, who he brought with him from Napoli, the Brazilian-born Italian international is expected to be given a well-deserved rest for this fixture. Eden Hazard is another key player who will not feature due to a back injury that puts him at risk for missing Saturday's upcoming match against Burnley.

Match Facts & Stats: Chelsea vs BATE

BATE's win at MOL Vidi on matchday one ended a run of 12 away games without a win in European competitions (D2 L10) - that doesn't including qualifiers
The Eastern European outfit have lost three of their four meetings with English clubs, including a 10-2 aggregate loss to Arsenal last season during the Europa League group stages
This will be Chelsea's first meeting with a team from Belarus