BAG OF FUN FOR BLUES

FROM BACK PAGE Ibrahim Semic on 30 minutes. Pedro had earlier given Antonio Conte’s men a fifth-minute lead with a fabulous strike and Cesar Azpilicueta headed in a third 10 minutes after the break. Tiemoue Bakayoko stroked home the fourth with 19 minutes left while Michy Batshuayi weighed in with late strikes on 76 and 82 minutes.

It matched the 6-0 demolition of Maribor in 2014 and underlined the depth of squad Conte (above) can call on. The Italian had made five changes to the side victorious at Leicester with Eden Hazard, Alvaro Morata, David Luiz, Victor Moses and Bakayoko dropped to the bench.