Batshuayi to cap first Chelsea start with goal against AC Milan
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Chelsea are unlikely to have Diego Costa available for their final International Champions Cup outing of pre-season, against AC Milan.
The striker is yet to take the field during the warm-up tournament having suffered from a minor back injury and remains a doubt for the latest clash as he bids to regain fitness.
“He didn’t play in these games because of injury and if he solves the injury and I see in training he’s in good shape it can be possible to see him in the next game against AC Milan,” new Blues boss Antonio Conte said ahead of the match.
That leaves Belgian international Michy Batshuayi best placed to make his first start since signing for Chelsea this summer. The former Marseille striker has been a second-half substitute in all three of the Londoners’ outings since his arrival, but could be thrown in from the off against the Italians.
Batshuayi is our joint favourite at 9/2 to open the scoring in America, alongside the doubtful Costa.
Both teams arrive at the home of the Minnesota Vikings having lost their previous match. Chelsea slumped to a 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid where two late Eden Hazard goals gave the scoreline an overly flattering look.
Milan, who bettered Bayern Munich on penalties in their opener, followed that success up with a 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
We make Chelsea the 17/20 favourites for victory despite that form, with the Rossoneri priced up at 3/1 and the draw available at 11/4.
With only one clean sheet between the pair in the competition, the 4/6 about both teams finding the back of the net looks particularly ripe, while it’s a skinny 8/11 that spectators are treated to an encounter containing over 2.5 goals.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
