Chelsea vs Gent: Conference League prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds today | OneFootball

Blues kick off their league phase campaign without four-goal hero Cole Palmer

Chelsea are in action at home to Gent tonight as they begin life in the Conference League proper.

The in-form Blues will undoubtedly be among the favourites to win Europe’s new-look third-tier competition this season, albeit it remains to be seen just how seriously new head coach Enzo Maresca takes it.

Chelsea have made a brilliant start to the Maresca era in general, with Cole Palmer - who will be absent tonight - scoring four goals in the first half in Saturday’s thrashing of Brighton that left the Blues fourth in the Premier League table and just two points off top spot.

Gent, meanwhile, currently sit third in the Belgian top-flight after finishing seventh last term and beat all of Vikingur, Silkeborg and Partizan Belgrade to advance through to qualify for the Conference League.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Chelsea vs Gent is scheduled for a 7:45pm BST kick-off time today on Thursday October 3, 2024.

Stamford Bridge in west London will host the match.

Where to watch Chelsea vs Gent

TV channel: The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, with coverage beginning at 7:45pm - after the conclusion of Tottenham’s Europa League game against Ferencvaros in Hungary.

Live stream: Subscribers will also be able to watch on a live stream online via the Discovery+ app and website.

LIVE coverage: Follow all the action tonight with Standard Sport’s live match blog, with Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge.

Chance to impress: Christopher Nkunku is expected to start for Chelsea against Gent on Thursday night

Getty Images

Chelsea vs Gent team news

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga, Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall, Neto, Felix, Mudryk, Nkunku

Subs: Sanchez, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Dyer, George, Madueke, Guiu

Gent XI: Roef, Brown, Watanbe, Mitrovic, Torunarigha, Gambor, Fadiga, Delorge, Ito, Surdez, Gudjohnsen

Subs: Schmidt, Gandelman, Vancsa, Gerkens, Sonko, Samoise, Araujo, Dean, Kums, Fortuna, Varela, De Vlieger

Chelsea vs Gent prediction

Such is the strength of Maresca’s squad, anything less than a routine home win would be considered a real upset.

It would be no surprise to see 11 changes from the Blues and still boast a team with European experience.

Chelsea to win, 2-0.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

The two teams have never previously met in competitive action.

Chelsea vs Gent match odds

Chelsea to win: 1/5

Draw: 11/2

Gent to win: 14/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).