Chelsea will kick off their Europa Conference League campaign with a match against Gent at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
After a stellar performance from Cole Palmer led Chelsea to a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, the Blues have extended their winning streak to four matches.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made two costly errors that resulted in goals against Brighton, highlighting areas for improvement. However, these were the first goals Chelsea had conceded since September 1.
Despite the defensive mishaps, Chelsea remain the Premier League’s top scorers with 15 goals. They also netted five goals against Barrow in the EFL Cup last week and continued their strong home form with just one defeat in 14 matches across all competitions.
Chelsea’s entry into the Europa Conference League marks a significant moment for the club, as they were European champions just three years ago. They have the chance to make history by potentially winning the ‘European quadruple’, consisting of the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, and Conference League.
Recent history is on Chelsea’s side as well, with victories in the Europa League in 2013 and 2019 when they last participated in a UEFA competition other than the Champions League.
Gent, on the other hand, had to battle through six matches in the qualifying rounds to reach the group stage of the Europa Conference League. Victories over Vikingur, Silkeborg, and Partizan Belgrade propelled Gent into the league phase.
Their strong qualifying campaign contributed to a run of 10 wins in their first 15 matches of the season. Gent is also performing well domestically, sitting behind only Genk in the league standings after nine matches.
Gent’s familiarity with the Europa Conference League sets them apart, as they have been a consistent presence in the competition since its inception in 2021. In their three previous participations, Gent reached the knockout stage each time.
The stage is set for an exciting showdown between Chelsea and Gent as they begin their Europa Conference League journey this season.
