Chelsea are set to kick off their UEFA Conference League campaign at Stamford Bridge, welcoming Belgian side Gent in their first league phase match on Thursday.
The Blues will make their debut in this competition, while Gent are seasoned competitors, participating for the fourth consecutive season.
Chelsea’s Recent Form:
The hosts come into this fixture on a high, unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions. Most recently, they secured a thrilling 4-2 win over Brighton in the Premier League, thanks to a sensational first-half display from Cole Palmer, who netted all four goals.
Chelsea are riding a four-game winning streak, scoring 13 goals and conceding just twice in that period, making them strong favorites heading into this European tie.
Gent’s Recent Form:
The visitors have also had a mixed start to their domestic season, losing 2-1 to Cercle Brugge last week but bouncing back with a convincing 3-0 victory over Oud-Heverlee Leuven. Max Dean, Noah Fadiga, and Andri Guðjohnsen were on the scoresheet in their win.
Gent, however, have struggled historically against English teams, managing just one win in six encounters. They will need to be at their best to cause an upset at Stamford Bridge.
Head-to-Head:
This will be the first meeting between the two teams. Chelsea have faced Belgian opposition eight times in the past, winning five and losing just once, while Gent have met English teams six times, with limited success, including a 5-2 aggregate loss to West Ham United in the 2022-23 Conference League quarterfinals.
Key Players to Watch:
– Chelsea: With Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, and Romeo Lavia not included in Chelsea’s Conference League squad, all eyes will be on Christopher Nkunku to lead the attack.
Nkunku, who scored a hat trick last week against Barrow, has been a consistent performer for Chelsea, and his creative play will be vital in breaking down Gent’s defense.
– Gent: Max Dean will be one to watch for Gent after his goal last weekend. Noah Fadiga, who also scored in their recent victory, will look to carry that momentum into this European clash.
Potential Lineups:
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 – Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Drewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
Gent: 3-4-1-2 – Roef; Gambor, Watanabe, Mitrovic; Fadiga, Ito, Delorge-Knieper, Brown; Vancsa; Surdez, Dean.
Score Prediction: Chelsea 4-0 Gent
Where to Watch:
United Kingdom: TNT Sports
United States: Apple TV
Canada: Apple TV
Australia: Apple TV
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Conclusion:
Given Chelsea’s stellar home form, which includes a 100% record against Belgian sides, and Gent’s struggles on the road in European competition, the Blues are heavy favorites to secure a comfortable win and extend their winning run to five games. Gent will need to be resilient, but Chelsea’s attacking prowess should prove too much.
