Europa League matchday two: Chelsea and Arsenal team news, starting XIs, TV

Chelsea vs. MOL Vidi

• What: Europa League group L
• When: Thursday 4 October
• Where: Stamford Bridge, London
• Kick-off: 8pm (UK time)
• TV channel: live on BT Sport 2

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says Champions League qualification is the goal but he is still targeting victory in this season’s Europa League.

After beating PAOK Salonika on matchday one, the Blues take on Hungarian champions MOL Vidi at Stamford Bridge tonight and Sarri is keen to continue the winning run in Europe.

Quoted by the Daily Express, he said: “I think at the moment for my club it’s more important to be in the Champions League. [However] I want to arrive in the end in the Europa League. I am here to win, I want to win, I want to win something. I hope to be able to do it.”

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Chelsea vs. Vidi kicks off at 8pm and in tonight’s other group L clash BATE Borisov are at home to PAOK (8pm).

Chelsea team news

The BBC reports that England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek may start for Chelsea tonight. Spaniard Pedro could also return to the starting line-up. Top scorer Eden Hazard is expected to be rested, the Express adds, while youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi is in contention to play.

Chelsea starting XI

How Chelsea could line up tonight at Stamford Bridge, according to the Evening Standard.

• Possible Chelsea starting XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Zappacosta, Cahill, Christensen, Emerson; Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Barkley; Moses, Morata, Pedro

Qarabag vs. Arsenal

• What: Europa League group E
• When: Thursday 4 October
• Where: Azersun Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan
• Kick-off: 5.55pm (UK time)
• TV channel: live on BT Sport 2

Arsenal sit top of group E and Unai Emery’s side travel to Azerbaijan looking to build on their opening victory two weeks ago.

The Evening Standard predicts that despite the Arsenal squad still adapting to Emery’s style, today’s opponents Qarabag “could be in for a hiding if things click for the Gunners”.

Arsenal team news

Emery won’t be able to call upon a number of his first-team squad for the match against Qarabag.

Because of political tensions with Azerbaijan, Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has not travelled. Aaron Ramsey is staying in the UK because his wife is due to give birth and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is out because of illness.

Petr Cech has a hamstring injury so Bernd Leno should start in goal.

Tonight’s group E matches - Qarabag vs. Arsenal and Vorskla Poltava vs. Sporting Lisbon - both kick off at 5.55pm.

Possible Arsenal starting XI

How the Gunners could line up tonight in Azerbaijan, according to the Evening Standard.

• Arsenal possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Holding, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Elneny; Iwobi, Ozil, Welbeck; Lacazette

Europa League TV guide

BT Sport will show all Europa League matches across its network. In today’s 5.55pm matches Red Bull Salzburg vs. Celtic is live on BT Sport 3 while Qarabag vs. Arsenal in live on BT Sport 2. The 8pm kick-offs will see Chelsea vs. MOL Vidi broadcast live on BT Sport 2 and Rangers vs. Rapid Vienna is on BT Sport 3.

Europa League fixtures

Tonight’s matches and kick-off times (all UK).

• Group A: Bayer Leverkusen vs. AEK Larnaca (5.55pm); Zurich vs. Ludogorets Razgrad (5.55pm)
• Group B: Red Bull Salzburg vs. Celtic (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 3); Rosenborg vs. RB Leipzig (5.55pm)
• Group C: Bordeaux vs. Copenhagen (5.55pm); Zenit St Petersburg vs. Slavia Prague (5.55pm)
• Group D: Fenerbahce vs. Spartak Trnava (5.55pm); Anderlecht vs. Dinamo Zagreb (5.55pm)
• Group E: Qarabag vs. Arsenal (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 2); Vorskla Poltava vs. Sporting Lisbon (5.55pm)
• Group F: AC Milan vs. Olympiakos (5.55pm); Real Betis vs. F91 Dudelange (5.55pm)
• Group G: Rangers vs. Rapid Vienna (8pm, live on BT Sport 3); Spartak Moscow vs. Villarreal (8pm)
• Group H: Apollon Limassol vs. Marseille (8pm); Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Lazio (8pm)
• Group I: Malmo vs. Besiktas (8pm); Sarpsborg 08 vs. Genk (8pm)
• Group J: Krasnodar vs. Sevilla (8pm); Standard Liege vs. Akhisarspor (8pm)
• Group K: Astana vs. Rennes (3.50pm); Jablonec vs. Dynamo Kiev (8pm)
• Group L: BATE Borisov vs. PAOK Salonika (8pm); Chelsea vs. MOL Vidi (8pm, live on BT Sport 2)