Chelsea vs Gent: Conference League prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results
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Chelsea Begin Conference League Campaign Without Star Cole Palmer
Chelsea kick off their Conference League group stage tonight, facing Belgian side Gent at Stamford Bridge. After securing a place in the tournament by narrowly beating Swiss club Servette in the play-offs, the Blues are looking to make a strong start in this new European competition.
Favorites to Win, But How Seriously Will They Take It?
Chelsea are one of the clear favorites to lift the Conference League trophy, but it’s uncertain how seriously new head coach Enzo Maresca will approach this tournament. Despite the expectation, Chelsea barely edged past Servette in the previous round. With their resources and quality, there’s added pressure to dominate every game they play in this competition.
The team has enjoyed a fantastic start to the Premier League under Maresca, and their 6-1 win over Brighton last weekend, with Cole Palmer scoring four goals in the first half, pushed them to fourth in the table, just two points behind the leaders. Unfortunately, Palmer won’t be available tonight.
Gent’s Journey to the Conference League
Gent currently sit third in the Belgian league after a seventh-place finish last season. They’ve already had a busy European campaign, beating Vikingur, Silkeborg, and Partizan Belgrade to earn their spot in the Conference League group stage.
Match Details: Chelsea vs Gent
- Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024
- Kick-off Time: 7:45pm BST
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Where to Watch Chelsea vs Gent
- TV Channel: The match will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, with coverage starting at 7:45pm, just after Tottenham’s Europa League game.
- Live Stream: Fans can also catch the action on the Discovery+ app and website.
Team News
Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, and Romeo Lavia, as they are being rested for workload management. However, Malo Gusto, who returned from injury against Brighton, may get another start, while Reece James remains out with a hamstring injury.
Christopher Nkunku looks set to lead the attack tonight, likely supported by Pedro Neto and Joao Felix. Other names expected to feature include Renato Veiga, Benoit Badiashile, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Prediction: Chelsea Expected to Cruise to Victory
Given Chelsea’s depth and quality, anything less than a comfortable win would be a shock. Maresca is expected to rotate the squad heavily, but even with changes, the Blues should have enough firepower to secure a routine victory.
- Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Gent
Head-to-Head
This will be the first-ever competitive meeting between Chelsea and Gent.
