Chelsea vs Gent predicted line-ups and team news | OneFootball

The league stage of the Conference League gets underway on Thursday, with Chelsea starting the competition as the strong favourites to lift the trophy.

Enzo Maresca’s men begin their campaign with a home clash against Gent, with the Blues looking to be finding their feet under their new manager.

It’s four wins in a row in all competitions for Chelsea and despite having to make changes, they will expect to collect another success on Thursday.

Chelsea vs Gent predicted lineups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Badiashile, Disasi, Veiga; Dewsbury-Hall, Casadei; Mudryk, Joao Felix, Neto; Nkunku.

Gent (4-2-3-1): Roef; Brown, Mitrovic, Watanabe, Gambor; Ito, Delorge; Surdez, Vancsa, Fadiga; Dean.

Fresh faces out to prove a point

Chelsea have the biggest squad in England and that has led to four senior players being left out of their squad for the Conference League.

Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana and Ben Chilwell were omitted from the European options, allowing others the chance to prove their worth.

Christopher Nkunku, who has just one Premier League goal to his name, is one player in particular who will be given his chance in this competition.

The former Paris Saint Germain and RB Leipzig man has been hampered by injury since moving to Stamford Bridge and is now having to impress a new manager.

Nkunku scored from the spot in both legs of the qualifier against Servette and also scored a hat-trick in the EFL Cup success over Barrow.

If the French international is to break into Chelsea’s league plans, then this competition will be vital to his hopes.

Gent head to Stamford Bridge sitting third in the Belgian top flight, having lost just one of their last six matches.

Manager Wouter Vrancken has two English players at his disposal, with former Leeds youngster Max Dean and ex-Derby defender Archie Brown part of the squad.

Chelsea vs Gent team news

Chelsea are set to make a number of changes from the side who beat Brighton last weekend, with four-goal Cole Palmer not available.

Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Joao Felix are expected to start, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is another set to feature.

Filip Jorgensen started between the posts against Servette and Barrow and is likely to be preferred to Robert Sanchez.

Reece James is still sidelined by injury, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could start in the centre of midfield.

Gent will be missing their captain, with Sven Kums injured, while Vrancken is waiting on the fitness of Danish midfielder Andrew Hjulsager.

Max Dean is expected to start up front, while Andri Gudjohnsen – son of former Chelsea star Eidur Gudjohnsen – is expected to be on the bench.