Loftus-Cheek hits hat-trick as Chelsea beat Bate

Ruben Loftus-Cheek hit a brilliant hat-trick as Chelsea coasted to victory in a one-sided Europa League game against Belarusian champions Bate Borisov.

The Blues, inspired by their England midfielder, were far too strong for their opponents, stretching their lead at the top of Group L to six points with three games to play.

Loftus-Cheek swept Maurizio Sarri's side ahead with just one minute and 42 seconds on the clock after being picked out by Davide Zappacosta's low cross.

The 22-year-old doubled the lead with a side-foot volley from Willian's corner and sealed his first competitive hat-trick with a sumptuous 20-yard finish before Aleksei Rios scored a consolation.

Bate goalkeeper Denis Scherbitski produced sublime saves to keep out Zappacosta and Olivier Giroud as Chelsea dominated from start to finish.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the first English player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League since Harry Kane for Tottenham in October 2014.