Michy Batshuayi returns to the starting lineup for the first time since Chelsea’s Premier League season opener against Burnley ahead of the visit of Qarabag.
The Belgian is one of the five changes made by Antonio Conte for their Champions League curtain raiser, with David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger, Victor Moses, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata dropping out of the side.
Gary Cahill and Andreas Christensen also start for the first time since August. Meanwhile, Davide Zappacosta makes his first start for the Blues, and is set to make his Champions League debut for the West London club. Eden Hazard starts a second consecutive game on the bench.
Qarabag, on the other hand, have seen manager Gurban Gurbanov make eight changes from their previous game, with Maksim Medvedev, Badavi Huseynov and captain Rashad Sadiqov the only ones retaining their place.
Chelsea team: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c); Zappacosta, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro. #CHEQAR
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 12, 2017
Chelsea subs tonight: Caballero, Rudiger, David Luiz, Moses, Bakayoko, Hazard, Morata. #CHEQAR
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 12, 2017
“Qarabağ”ımız “Çelsi”ylə matçda start heyəti #QarabağFK #UCL #CHEvQAR pic.twitter.com/OIPOAkOv0l
— Qarabağ FK (@FKQarabagh) September 12, 2017
