Chelsea continue their Europa Conference League journey tonight as they host Gent in the opening match of the league phase at Stamford Bridge. The Blues had to come through qualifying just to reach this stage of the competition, edging past Servette in unconvincing fashion, but they are the big favourites to lift the Conference League trophy in Poland next May.
Enzo Maresca’s side have made an impressive start to the season, sitting fourth in the Premier League table with only defeat in their opening six matches. Chelsea beat Brighton in a thrilling clash last time out, as Cole Palmer scored all four goals in a 4-2 victory, but the England star is not involved tonight, after the Blues left him out of their squad for the league phase of this competition to “protect” his workload. Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix all start.
Gent are third in the Belgian Pro League and had to progress through three rounds of qualifying to book their place in the Conference League proper. Their reward is a trip to Stamford Bridge to kick things off, while they will be in Northern Ireland just before Christmas to take on Larne. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground!
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A one-goal margin in terms of the lead for Chelsea at the half-way stage, but they have been the better team in this first half.
Veiga's first Blues goal was a lovely header made by Mudryk's excellent cross and started by Dewsbury-Hall whose pass was nicely weighted. It was the one moment of real quality Chelsea have mustered so far.
Work to do still, though, with Gent having improved as the half wore on.
First-half comes to an end with Neto’s shot charged down.
Blues were on top in the early stages and threatened to run away with it, but Gent held on and then enjoyed a good spell themselves.
This match not done yet.
45 mins: One minute added on.
Maresca will be keen to get his players in, after a fairly unconvincing 15 minutes or so.
43 mins: Felix threatens to poke the ball away from Roef, but the goalkeeper does enough.
Mudryk then bursts past his man, cross is cleared away. Chelsea starting to get going again.
Tempting fate a bit, there, the Chelsea fans, as they chant “Who are ya” to the corner taker as Gent take the set-piece.
Luckily for them, the Blues do get it clear. Gent growing, though.
39 mins: Chelsea happy to slow things down and keep the ball, after that shaky period.
Or not. Badiashile has not been particularly impressive and he now knocks it straight out for a corner.
The theatrical flop as he did so not falling anyone, as it happens.
More than a bit disconcerting that, if you're a Chelsea fan.
The space simply opened up for Archie Brown to receive from midfield.
Nice play by Gent to work the ball up the pitch, but a warning sign that Chelsea cannot afford to lose concentration.
34 mins: Chelsea are suddenly looking a bit ragged at the back.
Brown whips in a superb ball, Ito can’t quite get the shot away as it falls to him. Chelsea really vulnerable, as Gudjohnsen now fires an effort at goal.
Just over the bar.
33 mins: A chance for Gent - pretty much their first of the night.
There’s an almighty gap straight through the middle of the Chelsea defence and Brown is in on goal.
Pretty tame effort in the end, Jorgensen down comfortably to claim.
32 mins: Free-kick out wide for Chelsea, Neto and Felix standing over it. Up come the defenders.
It’s the out-swinger from Neto, Tosin rises highest but can’t keep the header down.
He wanted a corner, goal-kick given.
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Ahead of the European tie, Maresca confirmed he has a fully fit squad to choose from, minus James who remains sidelined, and the players who have been left out of the Conference League squad, such as Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Ben Chilwell.
‘They are all available unless they have been left out of the [Conference League] squad, plus Reece [James] is not available,’ our head coach confirmed at his pre-match press conference.
‘We try to share minutes with all of them. In this moment, it looks like we have players playing in the Premier League and in the cup competitions, but it is not like this. In this moment it is like this but in general it won't be like this.
‘We try to give all the players the opportunity and against Barrow, they all did a very good game. Hopefully tomorrow we can do the same.’
Filip Jorgensen is expected to start in goal for Chelsea, with the summer signing having impressed in his cup outings so far, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will hope to return to the matchday squad having been left out by Maresca against Brighton.
‘Filip has to do well because we need him doing well, not because he needs to put pressure on Robert,’ added Enzo.
‘We need him to play a good game because the team needs him to play a good game. That’s the same with all the players.
‘For Kiernan, and all the players that were out of the squad, there was not a physical problem [against Brighton].
'It [being out of the squad] happened with Kiernan last week and will happen with different players.
‘I am very happy with Kiernan and it was just a decision I made. It is the bad part of my job, it's not the one I prefer but it’s part of my role.’
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…as it happened: live blog, updates, highlights, lineups, comments, etc.
Welcome to Matchday 1 of the “league phase” of the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League. This is the first of six games we will be playing, three home, three away, to determine our ranking among the 36 teams in the competition. The top 8 go directly into the Round of 16, the next 16 contest an extra knockout round, the bottom 8 go home.
It’s our 300th European match!
Wins are expected for us, so let’s deliver.
It’s the B Squad for us today, just as voted on by the people. Andri Gudjohnsen, son of Eidur starts for Gent.
Here we go!
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1):Jörgensen | Veiga, Badiashile, Tosin, Disasi (c) | Dewsbury-Hall, Casadei | Mudryk, Félix, Neto | Nkunku
Substitutes from: Sánchez, Bergström, Cucurella, Colwill, Enzo, Madueke, Caicedo, George, Dyer, Guiu
Gent starting XI:Roef | Brown, Watanabe, A.Gudjohnsen, Gambor, S.Mitrovic (c), Ito, Delorge, Surdez, Fadiga, Torunarigha
Substitutes from: Schmidt, Gandelman, Vancsa, Gerkens, Sonko, Samoise, Tiago Araújo, Dean, Kums, Núrio Fortuna, De Vlieger, Hélio Varela
Date / Time: Thursday, October 3, 2024, 20.00 BST; 3pm EDT; 12:30am ISTVenue: Stamford Bridge, SW6Referee: Daniel Schlager (on pitch); Sören Storks (VAR)
On TV: TNT Sports (UK); none (USA); Sony TEN 5 (India); SuperSport MáXimo 3 (NGA); elsewhereStreaming: discovery+ (UK); Paramount+ (USA); Sony LIV (India); DStv Now, SuperSport GoTV (NGA)
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Last Updated 3rd October 2024 at 20:26
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Manager: Enzo Maresca
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Wouter Vrancken
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
Manager: Enzo Maresca
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Wouter Vrancken
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
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João Félix (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tsuyoshi Watanabe (KAA Gent).
Attempt missed. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Pedro Neto.
Cesare Casadei (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mathias Delorge (KAA Gent).
Foul by Axel Disasi (Chelsea).
Franck Surdez (KAA Gent) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Chelsea 1, KAA Gent 0. Renato Veiga (Chelsea) header from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mykhailo Mudryk with a cross.
Attempt missed. Pedro Neto (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Tsuyoshi Watanabe.
Attempt blocked. Pedro Neto (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Benoît Badiashile.
Attempt blocked. João Félix (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mykhailo Mudryk.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Mathias Delorge.
Offside, KAA Gent. Andri Gudjohnsen is caught offside.
Foul by Cesare Casadei (Chelsea).
Andri Gudjohnsen (KAA Gent) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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Check out how to watch Chelsea v KAA Gent in the Europa Conference League, including TV channel, radio coverage and kick-off time.
This competition is now closed
By Ned Holmes
Published: Thursday, 3rd October 2024 at 12:00 pm
Flying high after Saturday’s Cole Palmer masterclass, Chelsea are back at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night to kick off their Europa Conference League challenge by hosting KAA Gent.
Palmer, whose £45m move from Man City continues to look like an absolute bargain, became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League fixture as he inspired the West Londoners to a 4-2 victory over the Seagulls.
The attention now shifts to the Europa Conference League, with the Blues the favourites to win Europe’s third-string club competition in the inaugural year of the brand new format.
The group stages have been replaced by a league phase. Clubs will play eight games – four at home and four away – after which the top eight sides will automatically reach the last 16 and places 9th to 24th will face off in a two-legged play-off to join them.
Up first for Enzo Maresca’s side are Gent, who are enjoying a strong start to the new Belgian Pro League campaign and sit third after nine games. Blues fans may want to keep an eye out for Andri Gudjohnsen, the 22-year-old son of former Stamford Bridge favourite Eidur who plays up top and has two goals to his name this term already.
RadioTimes.com has rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch Chelsea v KAA Gent on TV and online.
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Chelsea v KAA Gent will take place on Thursday 3rd October 2024.
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Chelsea v KAA Gent will kick off at 8pm.
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