Chelsea’s shadow XI show cutting edge in making light work of Gent

Chelsea 4 Gent 2

They are a giant of European football swimming with the tiddlers in the Uefa Conference League and once again Enzo Maresca trusted his Chelsea shadow XI to navigate a competition that his club are the heavy favourites to win.

The Chelsea manager changed every player in the side that beat Brighton on Saturday and the new team extended their winning run to five games across three competitions. There were first Chelsea goals for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Renato Veiga, although the real prize for these players would be a role come Sunday against Nottingham Forest. Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku, the second half goalscorers, will surely have made a case.

The shadow XI at Chelsea have been deployed in the Conference League, and in the League Cup, and with a minimum of seven more games in the former, there is much to keep them occupied. Gent finished seventh in the Belgian top-flight last season, and for periods they struggled, although two second half goals demonstrated that this Chelsea XI remains a work in progress.

Maresca argued that his group remained “one team”. “Those who play tonight … it doesn’t mean they don’t play on Sunday. The important thing when changing players is that you can see the purpose and identity of the team. This is the most important - we continue the same way. I can understand it looks like this [two different teams for different competitions]. In football things can change very quickly.”

The Portuguese Veiga, an £11.8 million signing from Swiss club Basel, finished well with his head in the 12th minute. Neto scored soon after the restart, played in by Axel Disasi. The Gent defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe headed in from Andri Gudjohnsen’s cross for 2-1. Nkunku struck the third for Chelsea off Veiga’s toe when they kept a corner in play. Dewsbury-Hall scored the fourth when the ball came loose from Joao Felix’s throughball to Nkunku.

Maresca celebrated Dewsbury-Hall’s goal the most vociferously. He said his midfielder had gone from “the main man” when player and coach were together last season at Leicester to just “one of the players” at Chelsea. “We want him here,” Maresca said. “The celebration is because I know he needed that goal.”

The Iceland international Gudjohnsen, 22, was playing in front of his father Eidur, a Chelsea great in the stands. There was a good performance from Gent’s Archie Brown, an English left-back who played at Derby County’s academy. Another Englishman, Max Dean, teed up fellow substitute Omri Gandelman, for a late second for Gent. Wouter Vrancken, the Gent manager said his team “showed some guts to play”.

Maresca said that his side had “switched off” at 4-1 up. “We conceded the second goal because we thought the game was finished,” he said. “But overall we are very happy with the performance. We approached it well. These kinds of games are never easy.”

10:17 PM BST

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall speaks to TNT Sports

10:09 PM BST

Matchday one results in full

10:03 PM BST

Pedro Neto speaks to TNT Sports

09:58 PM BST

Full time: Chelsea 4 Gent 2

Chelsea have won their first game in the league phase of the Europa Conference League.

Despite scoring four goals, it certainly wasn’t a smooth-sailing victory for the home side who were occasionally troubled by their shaky backline.

It was an immense effort from Gent - who refused to give up and were rewarded for their efforts with a late second goal.

However, great performances from Dewsbury-Hall, Mudryk, and Veiga (to name just a few!) powered Chelsea to a deserved win.

09:52 PM BST

90+1 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 2

There is a minimum of four added minutes.

Mudryk clearly isn’t content with his team’s two-goal lead and drives forward towards the Gent box. His attempt is close, but brushes just wide of the goal.

09:51 PM BST

89 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 2

GOAL!

Gent have not stopped trying - even three goals down, they have continued to push and their efforts are rewarded with a second goal.

Dean crosses the ball into the path of Gandelman who strikes directly in front of the goal, and his attempt powers past Jorgensen.

09:46 PM BST

85 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 1

Gent’s two young British players combine to create another good chance for the visitors.

Brown once again powers down the left side and finds Dean. He shoots, but his effort flies wide.

09:44 PM BST

Dewsbury-Hall’s first goal for Chelsea

09:43 PM BST

83 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 1

Chelsea hit on the counter and power down the left of the pitch. The ball falls into the path of Guiu who goes for goal, but his attempt hits the side netting.

09:42 PM BST

82 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 1

Gent are still giving it their all as Brown powers down the left of the pitch. His attempt brushes agonisingly across the goal but goes just wide.

09:40 PM BST

80 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 1

There are changes for both sides.

It’s a double substitution for Gent as Kums and Gandelman join the action.

Chelsea’s goalscorers Neto and Nkunku make way for Guiu and 18-year-old George.

09:38 PM BST

75 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 1

Dewsbury-Hall wants another - Chelsea break and the ball falls to the midfielder who takes aim from 20 yards. His shot just tips around the post.

09:33 PM BST

71 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 1

Disasi is booked and Gent have a free kick from a dangerous spot just outside the box.

Delorge curves a great ball in. Jorgensen manages to get a hand to it and hits it to safety.

09:31 PM BST

69 mins: Chelsea 4 Gent 1

GOAL!

Dewsbury-Hall finally gets his goal!

Felix feeds the ball forward into the path of Nkunku. He can’t quite get a foot to it but Dewsbury-Hall runs in and smashes the ball into the back of the net.

His first goal for Chelsea, and well-deserved after his performance tonight.

09:26 PM BST

66 mins: Chelsea 3 Gent 1

The visitors make two substitutions as Gudjohnsen and Fadiga are replaced by Dean and Araujo.

09:25 PM BST

65 mins: Chelsea 3 Gent 1

Almost an instant response from Gent as they break and drive down the right.

A shot deflects off the crossbar. They are certainly not out of this one yet.

09:24 PM BST

62 mins: Chelsea 3 Gent 1

GOAL!

Nkunku finally makes the break-through for Chelsea and celebrates by blowing up a blue balloon, his signature celebration dedicated to his son who loves balloons.

A corner is taken short and Felix crosses the ball into the box. It initially powers past the goal and the players scrappily battle for it. Veiga can’t get a foot to it but Nkunku runs in and smashes it home.

09:22 PM BST

61 mins: Chelsea 2 Gent 1

Veiga and Mudryk are making it all happen for Chelsea down the left.

The former breaks and passes forward to Mudryk who crosses into the box. His attempt is blocked by Watanabe and goes out for a corner.

09:20 PM BST

58 mins: Chelsea 2 Gent 1

Three corners for Chelsea in quick succession.

The first two are both cleared behind the goal by the Gent defence.

The third flies in and brushes in front of the goal. It is punched away by the Gent goalkeeper - a decision which quickly comes back to haunt him as Chelsea regain possession and attack again.

Casadei attempts an overhead kick and his effort almost pays off - however his shot flies just above the goal.

09:17 PM BST

56 mins: Chelsea 2 Gent 1

Chelsea are desperate for a third.

Veiga does well to drive down the left and into the box. He sends a shot in which is cleared, but possession is quickly regained by the home side. Mudryk runs into the box but is dispossessed with a neat challenge by Mitrovic.

The ball goes out for a corner.

09:16 PM BST

53 mins: Chelsea 2 Gent 1

The Belgian side have belief here. Their fans are making their voices heard and momentum seems to have shifted slightly towards the visitors.

09:12 PM BST

49 mins: Chelsea 2 Gent 1

GOAL!

The visitors capitalise on a defensive capitulation from the home side.

The ball fires into the Chelsea box and is sloppily cleared. The hosts quickly regain possession and it is crossed onto the head of Watanabe. Disastrous from the Chelsea backline.

A lengthy VAR check takes place as the Gent fans wait on anxiously... but it is given! The cheers from the visitors echo around the stadium. What a start to the second half.

09:09 PM BST

47 mins: Chelsea 2 Gent 0

Neto is on cloud nine. He cleverly threads the ball around two defenders and a deflection sends it out for a Chelsea corner. He’s greeted with a hero’s welcome from the Chelsea fans around the corner flag as he steps up to take the kick.

He takes it short and passes to Felix who drives the ball into the box but it is dealt with by the Gent backline.

09:07 PM BST

46 mins: Chelsea 2 Gent 0

GOAL!

That’s more like it! Chelsea needed to approach this second half much more ruthlessly and they’ve done just that.

Disasi fires a ball forward from 30 yards out. It powers into the Gent box and Neto runs in towards it and volleys the ball into the back of the net.

Very scrappy from the Gent defence.

09:05 PM BST

45 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

The game is back underway at Stamford Bridge.

08:50 PM BST

Half time: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

Chelsea have the last chance of the half as they break on the counter. Felix attempts a scrappy shot from just outside the box but it is easily dealt with by the Gent backline and the whistle blows for half time.

After a dominant start from Chelsea, they lost their urgency throughout the first half and looked at risk of losing their one-goal advantage at points.

They were still very much on top towards the end of the first half, but the visitors capitalised on Chelsea’s inability to make that final pass and created a few dangerous chances of their own.

The hosts will need to approach the second half much more aggressively if they are to sustain their lead.

08:48 PM BST

45 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

Much better build-up play from Chelsea.

They are reclaiming their dominance in the midfield, but despite having the majority of the possession, they are failing to deliver that final ball at the moment.

There is just one added minute before half-time. Chelsea fans will be frustrated their side haven’t scored more than one goal in this half. They need to come out into the second half a bit punchier, as the visitors have gained some confidence over the past 20 minutes.

08:45 PM BST

42 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

A bit better from Chelsea.

They drive forward down the right and Veiga sends a great ball into the path of Felix who awaits just outside the box. He attempts a shot but the goalkeeper comes off his line and gathers the ball.

Another attempt in quick succession by Mudryk who, once again, drives down the left but his shot is blocked by the Gent backline and goes out for a throw-in.

08:43 PM BST

40 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

It feels like Gent could be building up to something here.

Gambor and Fadiga work well outside the Chelsea box to thread through the defenders, with Gambor eventually attempting a shot. However, it is blocked - and was offside anyways.

A real drop-off in pressure and urgency from Chelsea in the last 10 minutes.

08:42 PM BST

37 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

After the first thirty minutes of the game were spent almost solely in the Gent half, the ball has been spread further across the pitch as Gent grow into the game.

Badiashile accidentally sends the ball out for a Gent corner after a heavy touch. It flies into the Chelsea box but is easily dealt with by Disasi.

08:39 PM BST

35 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

The Gent fans are back in full voice. An air of confidence has suddenly emerged around the visiting side.

Chelsea have gone slightly off the ball and Gent try to make the most of a sustained period of possession.

08:37 PM BST

33 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

The visitors are suddenly starting to pose a threat here.

They drive forward again and have two chances in quick succession. Gudjohnsen threads through the Chelsea backline and shoots from just outside the box. To the relief of the home side, it flies just milimetres over the crossbar.

A better spell from Gent.

08:35 PM BST

32 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

Gent’s first real chance comes as they break quickly down the left.

The ball falls to British player Brown, who powers a shot at the goal, and into the hands of Chelsea goalkeeper Jorgensen.

The Gent fans are more than happy with that attempt and their cheers ring around the stadium.

08:34 PM BST

30 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

Chelsea have had 80% of the possession so far, with six shots in total. Gent are yet to even make a shot and are finding it increasingly tricky to get the ball out of their own half.

They break down the left and Mudryk, who is making so much happen for the home side tonight, goes down after being caught by Gambor. The hosts have a free kick which Neto powers into the box. It flies off the head of a Chelsea player and goes out for a goal kick.

08:30 PM BST

The goal that put Chelsea ahead

08:29 PM BST

25 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

There’s a lot of pace around this Chelsea team. Dewsbury-Hall and Mudryk are making it all happen for the home side at the moment, as the former breaks down the centre of the pitch and crosses to the latter who is dominating the left-hand touchline.

He attempts a neat pass into the box but his strike isn’t quite enough for the Chelsea players to get a head or foot to.

08:26 PM BST

23 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

Yet another attempt for Chelsea.

Dewsbury-Hall is desperate for his first goal in a Chelsea shirt. He runs in from outside the box and attempts a shot which is blocked well by Gent defender Mitrovic.

It goes out for a corner.

08:24 PM BST

20 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

Chelsea break once again. Veiga and Mudryk are working together well down the left and manage to weave the ball around their defenders and into the path of Nkunku.

He threads it into the path of Felix who attempts a shot, but his effort is blocked.

Gent have the ball for mere seconds before Chelsea regain possession. The visitors are finding it very difficult to get the ball out of their own half.

08:22 PM BST

18 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

Relentless from Chelsea at the moment - the home side are all over their opponents.

Gent manage to get a hold of the ball, but they are quickly dispossessed and Chelsea break. The ball crosses into the path of Dewsbury-Hall who attempts a shot in front of the goal. However, he can’t quite aim his strike on target and it goes wide. A relief for the visitors.

08:15 PM BST

12 mins: Chelsea 1 Gent 0

GOAL!

A great start for the home side after a period of sustained pressure. Dewsbury-Hall runs down the right and passes to Mudryk who crosses the ball onto the head of Veiga. The player was waiting at the far post and heads the ball into the goal.

What a moment for the midfielder - his first goal for the club and a deserved one for the team after the way they have started.

08:14 PM BST

9 mins: Chelsea 0 Gent 0

It’s all Chelsea at the moment - it will be a busy night for Gent’s backline.

Mudryk weaves his way into a good spot and threads the ball into the path of Felix. He finds his way around his man and attempts a neat strike which is well-blocked.

There are two more chances in quick succession for the home side as Felix crosses the ball into the box. It finds the head of Nkunku but he can’t quite find the target. The ball is cleared but quickly regained by the home side. Neto attempts a shot from the edge of the box but his effort goes wide.

08:11 PM BST

7 mins: Chelsea 0 Gent 0

Neto runs down the right and attempts a cross into the box which a Gent player easily blocks. The ball is sent out for the first corner of the match.

The ball curls into the box but is blocked once more. Felix tries to keep the play alive and sends the ball back into the box where it meets a second block.

In a third attempt, Neto sends a deep cross back into the box and it falls into the path of Felix who attempts a shot. It is blocked once more and the ball goes out for a throw-in.

08:08 PM BST

4 mins: Chelsea 0 Gent 0

As expected, the Gent team has set up very defensively and it is certainly restricting the home side’s options. They look well organised and their deep structure could be something that frustrates the Chelsea side.

08:06 PM BST

2 mins: Chelsea 0 Gent 0

One of the first chances of the match falls to Gent as the ball is crossed to Gudjohnsen who awaits in the box. He tries to set up an attempt but his shot is blocked.

Possession quickly returns to the home side.

08:02 PM BST

Kick-off: Chelsea 0 Gent 0

Referee Daniel Schlager blows his whistle and the visitors get the game underway. The crowd are definitely up for it as chants from both sets of fans ring out around Stamford Bridge.

07:57 PM BST

Enzo Maresca speaks to TNT Sports

07:55 PM BST

Gent player son of former Chelsea player

Andri Gudjohnsen will be a familiar name to some of the home fans as he is the son of Eidur Gudjohnsen, a former Chelsea player.

Eidur had a very successful spell at the club from 2000 to 2006, during which he helped his team win the League Cup and Premier League twice. The first Premier League victory in 2005 was the club’s first in 50 years, so the Gudjohnsen name is highly renowned around Stamford Bridge. He left the club for Barcelona where he continued his success with a Champions League victory and La Liga title.

Andri, a centre forward, joined Gent this year. He returns to Stamford Bridge tonight as a competitor rather than a supporter of the home side and will hope to beat the team his father once made history with.

07:40 PM BST

New young faces in Chelsea squad

Kiano Dyer, 17, has been included in Chelsea’s matchday squad for the first time tonight. He started training with the first team squad last season, after joining the club’s Under-18 team from West Bromwich Albion in 2021.

He lines up on the bench alongside 18-year-old Tyrique George who joined the club as an Under-8 after coming through Chelsea’s development centre programme.

He made his senior debut for the club as a substitute in a Conference League play-off match against Servette in August.

07:35 PM BST

A reminder of the teams: 11 changes for Chelsea

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

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

07:25 PM BST

Gent fans march to Stamford Bridge

07:18 PM BST

Chelsea players are in the building

07:14 PM BST

Big night for Gent

Large and vociferous Gent travelling support being filtered into Stamford Bridge currently. It’s a big game for them. A bigger Met police presence than for many European games.

07:06 PM BST

Palmer omitted from European squad

As Matt Law reports, Cole Palmer is one of three star players Chelsea have omitted from their squad for the league phase of the Europa Conference League.

Chelsea have left Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia out of the squad that will face Gent, Panathinaikos, Noah, Heidenheim, Astana and Shamrock Rovers in the league phase.

The trio have been left out to manage their respective workloads after Palmer had to withdraw from the England squad last month, having suffered muscle fatigue already this season, and Fofana and Lavia missed all of last season through injury.

Lavia also missed the draw with Crystal Palace ahead of the last international break through injury and Chelsea do not want to take any unnecessary risks over any of their players.

You can read the full story here.

07:01 PM BST

Maresca rings the changes

The Chelsea manager has shaken up his entire team, with a completely new starting XI to the one that started against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku start in attack, while Filip Jorgensen replaces Robert Sanchez in goal.

Nkunku has relished his role in European qualifiers and cup games for Chelsea this season. Tonight presents the perfect opportunity for the striker to add to his goal tally and top off the day after it was announced this morning he has been included in the France squad for upcoming international matches after missing out on Euro 2024 through injury.

Midfield duo Cesare Casadei and Renato Veiga also start, while there are some younger faces on the bench, including 17-year-old Kiano Dyer.

06:48 PM BST

Gent team news

06:46 PM BST

Chelsea team news

06:45 PM BST

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06:44 PM BST

Elsewhere in the Conference League...

It is currently half-time in today’s Conference League early kick-offs. After 45 minutes, these are the scores on matchday one:

- Molde 0 Larne 0

-Legia Warszawa 1 Real Betis 0

- Heidenheim 1 Olimpija 0

- Omonoia 0 Vikingur R. 0

- Astana 1 TSC 0

- Cercle Brugge 3 St. Gallen 0

- Dinamo-Minsk 1 Hearts 1

- Noah 0 Mlada Boleslav 0

06:39 PM BST

And how Gent have fared in their last five games

Lost Gent 0 Charleroi 3

Won  Gent 2 Mechelen 0

Won  Club Brugge 2 Gent 4

Lost Cercle Brugge 2 Gent 1

Won Gent 3 Oud-Heverlee Leuven 0

The Belgian team’s recent form is slightly more varied, but they’re not to be underestimated and currently sit third in the domestic Pro League.

06:36 PM BST

The form book for Chelsea

Drew Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 1

Won Bournemouth 0 Chelsea 1

Won West Ham 0 Chelsea 3

Won Chelsea 5 Barrow 0

Won Chelsea 4 Brighton 2

An excellent start to the season for Chelsea who currently sit fourth in the Premier League, just two points off Liverpool at the top.

06:26 PM BST

Good evening

Welcome to our coverage of the Europa Conference League as Chelsea host Gent at Stamford Bridge.

After a positive start to the Premier League season, Chelsea will be hoping to kick off their first campaign in this European competition with a win against their Belgian opponents.

It was the Cole Palmer show on Saturday in Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Brighton, as he scored four goals in the first half to become the first player in league history to complete such a feat.

However, Palmer will not be playing tonight as Enzo Maresca opted to omit him, along with Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, from the Conference League squad to ease their workload.

Chelsea have won every UEFA competition they have ever entered – and as competition favourites, they will be aiming to continue the record and secure this trophy to add to the collection.

With only three days between tonight’s match and their Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Maresca might opt for a starting XI similar to the one that beat Barrow 5-0 in the League Cup last Tuesday.

A hattrick from Christopher Nkunku plus an own goal and Pedro Neto strike saw the team cruise past their League Two opponents.

Chelsea and Gent have never played each other in a competitive setting, but the Belgian team is not to be underestimated. They reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League in 2022-23 and have been a fixture of Belgium’s top flight since 1990.

Speaking ahead of the game, Maresca emphasised his full focus on tonight’s fixture, and said: “If you ask me who we are playing against in the Premier League in three games, I really don’t know.”

“You cannot start the first game thinking about the final,” he added. “You have to go game after game. It’s the way we are trying to approach the whole season. We are happy and excited about this game.”

Team news coming soon…