Chelsea Dominates Gent in Conference League Opener

Pedro Neto's goal for Chelsea marked his second of the season.

Chelsea fielding a completely changed lineup secured a comfortable victory over Gent in their opening match of the Conference League. The Blues took an early lead when defender Renato Veiga headed home a 12th-minute opener from Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross. Just 49 seconds into the second half, winger Pedro Neto scored a near-post finish after receiving a long ball from Axel Disasi.

Gent briefly thought they were back in contention when defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s header in the 50th minute survived a VAR check for offside. However, Chelsea quickly regained control with Christopher Nkunku scoring his seventh goal of the season in the 63rd minute after capitalizing on a loose ball and firing a low shot past goalkeeper Davy Roef.

Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall then added to Chelsea’s tally, turning in a shot after Watanabe failed to clear. Omri Gandelman managed to score a consolation goal for Gent following a defensive lapse from Chelsea but the match highlighted the depth of Chelsea’s squad. Head coach Enzo Maresca showcased a talented second XI, distinct from the one that defeated Brighton 4-2 in the Premier League.

While players like Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana were rested, notable stars such as Mudryk, Neto, Dewsbury-Hall and Nkunku demonstrated the strength of Chelsea’s roster. Chelsea’s squad valued at approximately £1.1 billion, dwarfs that of Gent whose most expensive signing Momodou Sonko cost just £6 million. This disparity emphasizes the evolving landscape of European football particularly as English clubs dominate.

Chelsea aims to become the first team to add a Conference League title to their previous successes in the Champions League and Europa League.