Chelsea take their furthest journey of the season to face BATE Borisov in matchweek four of the Europa League. The Blues will travel many miles for what should be an easy three points.
As Chelsea look forward to matchday four in Europe’s subordinate cup competition, Maurizio Sarri is still enjoying a charmed life in the Stamford Bridge hot seat. Thirteen weeks in and the Italian has yet to taste the bitter pill of defeat. The trip to take on BATE Borisov this week is unlikely to see that run broken.
Chelsea currently sit comfortably on top of Group L and will guarantee qualification for the knockout phase with a win against the Tractor Boys from Belarus. The reverse fixture at home two weeks ago saw Chelsea run out winners 3-1. The highlight was a hat-trick for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the first European hat-trick by an Englishman for Chelsea since Peter Osgood (5) and Tommy Baldwin (3) against Jeunesse Hautcharage in September 1971.
The lowlight was the almost inevitable goal concession courtesy of some all-too-familiar lackadaisical defending. You might say it was a late goal for BATE after Chelsea had completed the job, but it was sloppy. A lofted ball over the top found Aleksei Rios completely unmarked at the back post to give the Belarusians a consolation goal.
Sarri wasn’t happy after the game. “When we conceded the goal I didn’t like it very much. I don’t know why but I prefer the clean sheet,” he said.
Tactically, the Tractor Boys were expert in what could only be called a “low-press” at Stamford Bridge. Their manager Alyaksey Baga played a 3-4-3 formation and, having seen Chelsea win their opening two games in the Europa League by a single goal, it was all about damage limitation for the Belarusians.
Chelsea were allowed time on the ball to do as they pleased. Cesc Fabregas patrolled the centre circle, dictating play in the Jorginho role. However, his time at the top is clearly coming to an end with his footballing brain far outpacing his legs. Two early goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek put Chelsea in control.
Thereafter, as far as Sarri’s side were concerned the game was all about Loftus-Cheek picking up the match-ball. He duly obliged early in the second half with a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area. With that milestone passed, Chelsea simply pulled the shutters down. If Mikel John Obi had been on the bench he’d have been readying himself for action.
As Chelsea venture into Belarus for the first time and Chelsea supporters tick another country off their travelogue, the smart money is definitely on an away win. Maurizio Sarri will be keen to keep his Premier League team fresh for the weekend’s game against Everton. With Alvaro Morata beginning to assert himself as Chelsea’s number one striking goalscorer, Olivier Giroud will be under pressure to get his season’s goal tally going.
BATE Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday will be no problem for Sarri’s men. But if his charmed life is to continue and Chelsea are to carry on competing on four fronts this season those defensive frailties will have to be tightened up.