Team News: Six changes for Chelsea against Maccabi Tel Aviv

Oscar has returned to the Chelsea side for the first time since the opening day of the Premier League season for tonight's Champions League Group G opener against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

John Terry, Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic and Branislav Ivanovic are all dropped to the substitutes' bench after the Blues lost 3-1 at Everton on Sunday, while John Obi Mikel and Pedro miss out on the squad altogether.

Gary Cahill returns in defence to captain the side in place of Terry and there is also a first start for summer signing Abdul Baba Rahman at left-back as Cesar Azpilicueta switches to the right.

Youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek is given the nod to start alongside Willian and Cesc Fabregas, who keeps his place in the side despite Oscar's return, while Loic Remy is selected to lead the attack ahead of Costa.

For the visitors, Eran Zahavi is the dangerman with the attacking midfielder having scored seven goals already in the Champions League this season as Maccabi progressed through two qualifying rounds and a playoff.

Former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim, who played 23 games for the Blues in 2007-08, starts against his old employers.

Chelsea: Begovic; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Rahman; Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy Subs: Blackman, Terry, Ivanovic, Ramires, Matic, Traore, Costa

© Getty Images

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Rajkovic; Shpungin, Tibi, Ben Harush, Ben Haim; Alberman, Zahavi, Rikan, Mitrovic; Igiebor, Ben Haim II Subs: Lifshitz, Itzhaki, Micha, Vermouth, Carlos Garcia, Peretz, Radonjic

Sports Mole's live coverage of the match can be found here.