Chelsea will look to solidify their position with a victory over Armenian side Noah.
The Blues have made an excellent start to their European campaign, winning both of their opening matches in style, scoring four goals in each (vs. Gent 4-2, Panathinaikos 4-1).
However, Enzo Maresca’s side has shown some vulnerability recently, winning just one of their last three competitive fixtures (D1, L1) since that triumph over Panathinaikos.
Chelsea’s biggest concern will be their lack of defensive stability, as they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight matches, with their last shutout coming in a 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow in September.
Maresca may opt to rotate his squad ahead of a crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal, but tightening up at the back will be a key priority as they chase both the win and an improved defensive record.
Encouragingly, Chelsea had managed three wins ‘to nil’ in four European home matches before their opening win against Gent.
Noah: A Step Up in Quality
Armenian side Noah have had a mixed start to their Conference League group stage, currently sitting mid-table with one win (2-0 vs Mladá Boleslav) and one defeat (0-1 vs Rapid Vienna).
Despite being relative newcomers on the European stage, Noah have already played ten matches in this competition due to their successful navigation through all four qualifying rounds over the summer.
However, their form away from home has been poor, going winless in their last four away games (D1, L3).
Chelsea presents a significant step up in quality, but Noah will enter this match with some confidence.
They’ve won five of their last six games in all competitions, conceding just once across those victories, including a 2-1 domestic win over Urartu last weekend.
While a victory at Stamford Bridge seems unlikely, Noah will hope to frustrate their hosts and continue their strong defensive form.
Players to Watch :
Chelsea: Christopher Nkunku
The French forward has been enjoying a bit of form, he has scored 5 goals in his last 4 starts for the blues, scoring a goal each in his last 2 conference league games.
He is Chelsea’s highest goalscorer this season and will be looking to increase his goal tally.
Noah: Gonçalo Gregório
The Portuguese forward has been in fine domestic form, scoring four goals in his last four appearances for Noah.
While he’s yet to find the net in the main draw of the Conference League, Gregório will be Noah’s key attacking threat.
Potential Lineups:
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 – Sanchez; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Dewbury-Hall, Enzo; Madueke, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
Noah: 4-3-3 – Cancarevic; Miljkovic, Silva, Muradyan, Hambardzumyan; Manvelyan, Eteki, Oulad Omar; Cinari, Matheus Aias, Castro Ferreira.
Score Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Noah
Where to Watch:
United Kingdom: TNT Sports
United States: Paramount+
Canada: DAZN Canada
India: Star Sports.
Australia: Stan Sport.
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Conclusion :
Chelsea are heavy favourites heading into this tie, and despite their recent defensive struggles, their attacking firepower should be enough to see them through.
Noah will likely focus on staying compact and organized, but Maresca’s men should have the quality to secure a comfortable win.
