Vidi 0-0 Chelsea LIVE: Score and Europa League latest; Callum Hudson-Odoi starts

MOL Vidi vs Chelsea: Europa League score, goals and latest updates

MOL VIDI 0-0 CHELSEA

Vidi XI: Kovacsik, Vinicius, Fiola, Hadzic, Huszti, Nego, Nikolov, Stopira, Juhasz, Scepovic, Milanov.

Chelsea XI: Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Ampadu, Emerson, Fabregas, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Morata, Hudson-Odoi

• Maurizio Sarri makes TEN changes from Manchester City win

MOL VIDI 0-0 CHELSEA

25: Chelsea have had 78 percent of possession so far. Just the two shots off target though. A very relaxed approach from Maurizio Sarri’s side. I suppose It’s pretty difficult to go from the intensity of playing Manchester City to a meaningless away day in the Europa League.

22: Easy save for Willy Caballero as Nego capitalises on a loose pass from Callum Hudson-Odoi, spins and fires tamely.

19: There’s also an extraordinary transfer rumour going round about Alvaro Morata, who looks unmistakably miserable out there tonight.

The Spain striker’s agents are trying to engineer a move away from Stamford Bridge – and intermediaries have made contact with Barcelona about a possible move in January…

I don’t even know what to say about that. Good luck, Lionel.

16: A simply ENORMOUS goal in the battle of the abbreviated sides tonight. BATE, whose result Vidi must better tonight, have taken the lead against PAOK.

That all means that Vidi now must beat Chelsea to progress.

13: So what do we all think about the rumours surrounding Gary Cahill’s departure?

A quick ask around the office and everyone seems to agree that the veteran centre-back should be sold.

The Blues captain has played only 21 minutes in the Premier League season with new manager Maurizio Sarri deeming the 32-year-old not a fit for his passing style.

10: Ross Barkley should do better. Loftus-Cheek gets a flick on Willian’s corner but the former Everton star isn’t alert and the chance goes begging.

8: Freezing on the touchline tonight. I think It’s -1 in Budapest. Can someone send for a wooly Christmas hat for Maurizio?

5: Vidi won’t have too many chances tonight – so that makes Nikolov’s shanked effort all the more aggravating for the hosts. He’d made a few yards on Ampadu but slices it wide.

3: Good start? Kind of. Chelsea are total control with Willian winning an early corner that Vidi just about clear. Cesc Fabregas is being afforded plenty of space in midfield. Not the greatest tactical idea if you ask me…

MOL VIDI 0-0 CHELSEA

1: And we’re underway. I can just sense how excited you all are about this…

Snappy snap

17:54: Fabregas looks in a rush. The referee is trying to get the Chelsea midfielder to pause for photos and have a chat while flipping the coin – but Cesc just wants to get on with this.

Here they come…

17:50: And the players emerge from the tunnel to a foggy, damp and freezing night in Budapest – with plenty of empty seats. Still a hefty noise coming from the home supporters.

Not to play for

17:45: Inspiring interview from Sarri here. Maurizio Sarri says their Europa League game against MOL Vidi is a “difficult match to prepare for” with nothing on the line.

“We have three 2000-born players in the 18,” Sarri said. “It’s a very difficult match to prepare because we don’t have a material target.”

Lovely stuff.

Who’s qualified?

17:40: Ready for a big list of teams who have already qualified? Enjoy…

Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Dinamo Zagreb, Dynamo Kiev, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Lazio, Real Betis, RB Salzburg, Sporting Lisbon, Zenit, FC Zurich.

But there’s a few more. Eight more to be precise. Having finished third in their Champions League groups – these sides will join the Europa League party.

Benfica, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Internazionale, Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk, Valencia, Viktoria Plzen.

Quite like the look of Shakhtar Donetsk as a cheeky punt myself.

Twitter round-up

Dan: Great to see Ampadu starting tonight alongside CHO. 5 academy players in the squad. Sneaky wager on CHO to score Chelsea win.

Harry: Ampadu & Callum Hudson-Odoi start. Oh and for every goal celebration CHO will have in the future, I will make my profile picture. I’ve been a fan of this guy since he was tearing defences up as a youth under Jody Morris.

Hardly: I laugh when people when people mention Alvaro Morata and “striker” in the same sentence, perhaps in Real and partially in Juve, but NOT this one presently in Chelsea. He is the laziest striker I know in European football and he is NOT in the same category as Lukaku.

Sarri condemns abuse of Sterling

17:30: Maurizio Sarri has slammed the “disgusting” abuse aimed at Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police launched investigations into alleged racist abuse from a section of home supporters towards Manchester City’s Sterling in last Saturday’s 2-0 win for the Blues. Chelsea subsequently suspended four people in connection with the incident.

“It was disgusting,” said Sarri. “I condemn any form of discrimination.”

Elsewhere…

17:25: Rangers are also in action tonight – and there’s plenty at stake for Steven gerrard’s side.

Rangers must beat Rapid Vienna to make it out of the group, while Vienna will qualify if they win or draw.

They will finish top if they win and Villarreal do not, or if they draw and Villarreal lose due to their head-to-head superiority over Spartak Moscow.

English opponents

17:19: Vidi’s only previous home match with an English side is their most famous victory. A 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1985 was followed by a 5-4 penalty shootout triumph in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. They went on to reach the final, losing to Real Madrid.

Manager

17:16: Serbian Marko Nikolic’s own playing career was cut short by injury. But the 39-year-old has performed well as a manager, first with Serbian side Rad. His reputation grew with Partizan and Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia before a second spell with Partizan. He won the Hungarian league title in his first season with Vidi.

Domestic duty

17:13: Vidi were Hungarian champions for a third time last season. They are currently second in the Hungarian First Division, eight points behind leaders Ferencvaros and three ahead of third placed Budapest Honved. Vidi lost 2-0 to fifth-placed Ujpest last Saturday.

Twitter round-up

Marcus: Ampadu gets his big chance, CHO gets another shot to impress, and RLC gets another shot to run the attack. Pumped for this match!

Jay: Ampadu and Christensen partnership at the back, RLC and CHO also starting, two other academy boys on the bench, oh what a day to be alive for Chelsea fans.

PG: Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho would never have done what Sarri has done with youth. I hope McEachran gets on later. Still, one good touch and some of our fans will start saying he’s the next Zidane.

We’ll give it large…

17:05: I may have paraphrased Vidi manager Marko Nikolic with that headline… but that’s essentially what he’s said.

He acknowledges their Europa League fate is out of their hands, but insisted his side would give their all against Chelsea.

“I feel that a point on Thursday would be something great,” he said. “I am sure that the players will go out onto the pitch with special motivation tomorrow.

“It will also be a full house. Their so-called ‘B team’ would be champions in several leagues around the world. I cannot guarantee the result but I have no doubt that we will all give our maximum against Chelsea.”

Michy…

17:00: Let’s take a moment to appreciate Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi, who helped Valencia secure a Champions League win over Manchester United yesterday.

Not content with Phil Jones’ hilarious own goal – Michy took to Twitter to rub salt in the wound.

Replying to a comment about his boots having the Batman symbol on the heel – Batshuayi commented on another funny Phil Jones face.

“Glad you like guys… but can we talk about Phil Jones face first #anotherone,” he wrote. Rinsed…

What’s at stake…

16:55: Chelsea are group winners and BATE Borisov will be through if they win or draw and Vidi do not win at home to Chelsea.

Vidi will be through if they pick up more points than BATE.

PAOK host BATE and will finish second if they win by two clear goals or more and Vidi lose by a two-goal margin or greater on a three-way head-to-head goal difference.

If Vidi lose by a single goal at home to Chelsea, PAOK will still finish second ahead of Vidi on goals scored providing they defeat BATE by two or more goals. But if PAOK win 1-0, BATE will finish ahead of Vidi on goals scored.

Not quite sure why I went into such depth about Vidi’s chances – but those Chelsea fans wishing the best for their opponents are now fully informed…

Ten changes…

16:50: Chelsea make 10 changes for tonight’s Europa League Group L clash with Vidi in Budapest.

Forward Willian was the only player to retain his place following last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester City.

Alvaro Morata started up front, with Callum Hudson-Odoi the third forward, while Ethan Ampadu started in defence.

Starting XI…

16:45: And the line-ups have arrived folks. Maurizio Sarri does indeed rest most of his big names but there’s still more than enough fire-power in the squad to get the win.

Vidi XI: Kovacsik, Fiola, Juhasz, Vinicius, Stopira, Nego, Anel Hadzic, Nikolov, Milanov, Marko Scepovic, Huszti.

Subs: Tujvel, Kovacs, Berecz, Hodzic, Patkai, Tamas, Hangya.

Chelsea XI: Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Ampadu, Emerson Palmieri, Barkley, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Morata, Hudson-Odoi.

Subs: Cumming, Alonso, Jorginho, Pedro, Giroud, Luiz, McEachran.

Afternoon…

16:40: Did anyone order a meaningless dead-rubber?

You’ll be thrilled to hear that it’s arrived in the shape of Mol Vidi vs Chelsea in Budapest…

Sorry I’m not overly enthusiastic but Chelsea have already qualified as group winners following five wins from five games.

I’m also low on enthusiasm because I returned from Barcelona this morning and It’s utterly freezing here…

Anyway, I’ve turned up – you’ve turned up – so let’s have those line-ups and get this ball rolling. Standby…

MOL VIDI vs CHELSEA

Chelsea go in search of a sixth Europa League Group L win from six games against Vidi with a host of first-choice players rested.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and N’Golo Kante are rested and have not travelled to Budapest, while Mateo Kovacic, Gary Cahill and Victor Moses are injured.

Jamie Cumming, 19, and George McEachran, 18, are part of the squad, with boss Maurizio Sarri likely to rotate his options and give opportunities to Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Chelsea provisional squad: Caballero, Alonso, Fabregas, Jorginho, Barkley, Pedro, Giroud, Zappacosta, Willian, Christensen, Morata, Luiz, Emerson Palmieri, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Ampadu, Bulka, Cumming, McEachran.