Chelsea vs. Gent : Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

On Thursday, Chelsea will host Gent of Belgium at Stamford Bridge to kick off their Europa Conference League campaign.

The Blues won 4-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion over the weekend, largely thanks to a masterpiece from Cole Palmer. This result brings their winning streak to four matches.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

With Enzo Maresca off to a fantastic start since replacing Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea have proven everyone wrong who wrote them off before the season began, considering the constant off-field drama.

The Blues aren't flawless, but they're only two points behind the Premier League leaders, and Palmer has been a driving force behind their rise, scoring four goals in Saturday's triumph over Brighton.

Chelsea hadn't let in a goal since September 1, so the two mistakes that allowed Robert Sanchez to score were a minor cause for concern and evidence that the team might still be better.

Despite this, Chelsea have scored 15 goals in the Premier League, with five more coming in last week's EFL Cup match against Barrow. With the previous week's win over Brighton, their home form improved to one win in fourteen overall.

This is their first match in the new Europa Conference League, and Chelsea, who were European champions only three years ago, will likely be the most prominent club to participate since the league's start.

Being heavy favorites going into the season, Chelsea has a shot at becoming the first team ever to win all four of Europe's major competitions: the Champions League, the Europa League, the Cup Winners' Cup, and the Conference League.

Also, they have a good chance of winning, as they did in the Europa League in 2013 and again in 2019—the last two occasions they competed in a UEFA tournament other than the Champions League.

Gents will stand in their way on matchday one, but Chelsea hasn't lost to a Pro League club in 29 years and has won five of their eight matches against Belgian teams, so they probably don't need more confidence.

Even though they are playing on the continent for the tenth consecutive season, Gent has a lot of European heritage, and they have gotten off to a good start this season under Wouter Vrancken.

Gent began their journey here in the second qualifying round and proceeded through six matches, defeating Silkeborg, Partizan Belgrade, Vikingur, and themselves to earn a spot in the league phase.

Their qualifying performances have helped them go on a winning streak of ten games in the first fifteen matches of the season. Gent is also performing admirably at home, and they are now tied with Genk for second place in the league with nine points.

Being a constant participant since its inception in 2021 and having advanced to the knockout stage on its three prior appearances, Gent is more acquainted with the Conference League journey than nearly any team in Europe.

In 2022–23, they had a fantastic season and reached the quarterfinals, but their hopes were dashed in London when they lost to eventual champions West Ham United.

However, the Belgian team has experience playing in London. In 2017, they eliminated Tottenham Hotspur from the Europa League at Wembley in front of a sold-out crowd.

Chelsea x Gent Team News

Given the size of the squad, Maresca could make a similar substitution spree as he did in their cup victory over Barrow, making eleven changes.

Because he is not named to Chelsea's Conference League roster, Palmer will not play any offensive partner from last weekend and will also have the week off.

After impressing Barrow, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, and Mykhaylo Mudryk will most likely get a second chance.

After Romeo Lavia's return from a six-game absence, Reece James is still the sole Chelsea player out with an injury.

The summer transfer window saw critical players like Julien De Sart, Tarik Tissoudali, and Hong Hyun-seok leave Gent, completely altering the team's makeup from their previous trip to London.

Andrew Hjulsager, who is questionable, and new signing Sven Kums will also be out for the visitors. Injury has delayed Aime Omgba's debut since he joined from NAC Breda.

After scoring off the bench in Sunday's victory over OH Leuven, Andri Gudjohnsen—son of former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen—may have a chance to play here on his father's old stomping ground.

Having scored in consecutive starts for the Buffalos, English striker Max Dean is expected to play up front when he returns to his hometown.

Our Predictions

Chelsea to win and over 2.5 goals @ 1.55 on Sky247.ng

Despite fielding a significantly different lineup, their home victories over Servette and Barrow provide hope that Maresca's anticipated extensive rotation won't hurt them in this match.

Despite a respectable start in Belgium, Gent will find it difficult to compete with the firepower of their hosts, Chelsea, who can put in players with lots of European experience.

Elevate your betting experience with SKY247 Nigeria. Join now and discover a thrilling world of sports, live events, and exclusive bonuses. Bet with confidence on your favorite teams and games.