Chelsea vs Gent LIVE! Conference League result, match stream and latest updates today

Chelsea vs Gent - LIVE!

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Renato Veiga both scored their first goal for Chelsea in a comfortable 4-2 win over Gent in the Conference League.

In the Blues’ opening match of the League phase, they made a confident start at Stamford Bridge and took a deserved lead through left-back Veiga, one of 11 changes made by Enzo Maresca. The 21-year-old headed home from a Mykhailo Mudryk cross and while the Blues initially threatened to run away with it, Gent came into the match and enjoyed a positive spell themselves before the break.

However, within 40 seconds of the second-half, Chelsea doubled their lead as Axel Disasi played a ball over the top and Pedro Neto ran onto it to lash in at the near post. The Belgian side responded impressively, hitting back minutes later when Tsuyoshi Watanabe took full advantage of some absent defending to head past Filip Jorgensen.

Chelsea were soon back in charge, though. Christopher Nkunku, up to that point, lashed a strike straight through Davy Roef, who didn’t do enough seven minutes later either when Dewsbury-Hall arrived in the box and squirmed a finish past the goalkeeper. Omri Gandelman gave the away fans one final cheer in the closing stages, as he was allowed to stroll into the box and finish first-time in a sloppy conclusion to the match from the hosts.

Chelsea vs Gent latest news

• GOAL! Dewsbury-Hall makes it 4-1

• GOAL! Nkunku strike too powerful

• GOAL! Watanabe gets Gent back in it

• GOAL! Neto doubles advantage

• GOAL! Veiga heads Chelsea into early lead

Chelsea player ratings

22:02 , Matt Verri

Cesare Casadei 5

Misplaced passes and one very poor effort on goal made this an evening to forget for the young Italian. A talented player who needs more game time in this competition.

Joao Felix 6

Not the catalyst in Chelsea’s attack this time, but always offered himself and had a few nice forays forward.

Mykhailo Mudryk 7

End product is still his biggest issue, but assisted the opening goal and demonstrated his pace by constantly trying to beat full-back Hugo Gambor - and succeeding.

Read those in full here!

FT: Chelsea 4-2 Gent

21:55 , Matt Verri

Well that was fun.

Five wins on the bounce for Chelsea and they looked dangerous in attack pretty much all match.

Not so impressive at the back, but it doesn’t matter in the end.

Strong start in the Conference League.

Chelsea 4-2 Gent

21:52 , Matt Verri

90+2 mins: Four minutes added on.

Gent are still piling forward. I was sort of joking when I mentioned they need three goals....

Ito slices an effort over the bar.

GOAL! Chelsea 4-2 Gent | Omri Gandelman 90'

21:50 , Matt Verri

There’s one of them!

Chelsea have given up defending, allowing Gandelman to stroll into the box and fire the finish first-time into the far corner.

Chelsea 4-1 Gent

21:49 , Matt Verri

88 mins: All very quiet at Stamford Bridge. Fair to say the fans know this is done.

Doesn’t mean we don’t have time for another change. Gambor off, replaced by Samoise.

Just the three goals needed.

Chelsea 4-1 Gent

21:45 , Matt Verri

84 mins: Brown is at it again, bursting down the left. Chelsea struggling to cope with him.

This time he picks out a team-mate perfectly, only for Araujo to make a complete mess of it.

Can understand now why Brown didn’t pass a couple of minutes ago.

Chelsea 4-1 Gent

21:42 , Matt Verri

82 mins: Brilliant run from Brown, strong to hold onto the ball and then the nutmeg as he bursts away from Disasi.

The run is so good he decides he deserves to shoot from 25 yards out... dragged wide.

Chelsea 4-1 Gent

21:40 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Maresca turns to his bench.

Nkunku’s night is over, with Guiu introduced. Neto also replaced, George on for the final ten minutes or so.

Chelsea 4-1 Gent

21:37 , Matt Verri

76 mins: Neto to swing in yet another Chelsea corner.

And he’ll do so once more, Disasi does another at the back post to earn a second go at the set-piece.

How has that stayed out?! Neto with a stunning ball in, Disasi throws himself at it, Badiashile too... nobody gets a touch.

Chelsea 4-1 Gent

21:33 , Matt Verri

73 mins: Disasi earns himself the first yellow card of the night, a bit too keen in closing down.

Chelsea with another chance to break, Gent incredibly open. Felix... just runs into a yellow shirt. Chance goes.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

21:31 , Matt Verri

Job done.

Dewsbury-Hall has deserved a goal. He now has one.

GOAL! Chelsea 4-1 Gent | Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 70'

21:30 , Matt Verri

That very much is game over!

Again it’s not great from Roef in goal, but Chelsea don’t care.

Felix’s ball through doesn’t reach Nkunku, but Dewsbury-Hall is on the scene. Basically right at Roef and right through him.

Chelsea 3-1 Gent

21:28 , Matt Verri

68 mins: There’s a lot of space on offer now, as Gent commit more and more players forward.

Should be good news for Chelsea. Mudryk and Neto will be looking to take full advantage.

Chelsea 3-1 Gent

21:25 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Chelsea determined to make this hard for themselves.

Araujo on after that goal for Gent and he has a clear sight at goal within seconds, but his shot is deflected just wide.

Should have made more of it.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

21:24 , Matt Verri

Nkunku gets in on the act now. That was a powerful strike.

Roef was unsighted and let it slip through. Surely game, set and match Chelsea now.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Gent | Christopher Nkunku 63'

21:23 , Matt Verri

And so he can thank me for that goal!

Another Chelsea corner, it’s a bit of a mess in the box but rolls into the path of Nkunku, who hammers a finish through Roef.

Not the best goalkeeping you’ll ever see.

Chelsea 2-1 Gent

21:21 , Matt Verri

61 mins: The way Chelsea have defended at times tonight, they’re going to want a third goal.

Nkunku just shrugged off the ball, ends up in a heap. He’s had a really quiet night.

Chelsea 2-1 Gent

21:19 , Matt Verri

58 mins: Couple of corners for Chelsea in quick succession.

Make that three in a row, as Mitrovic flicks a header away. All of Chelsea’s threats are camped at the back post.

Chelsea 2-1 Gent

21:17 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Pace of the match has slowed. Chelsea not taking any risks, Gent sitting off.

Veiga changes that as he bursts into the box, can’t quite pick out Felix. Mudryk then overhits his cross.

Chelsea 2-1 Gent

21:13 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Neto tries to bundle his way into the box, crowded out.

Nkunku does then have the chance to get a shot away, but Watanabe throws himself in the way to block.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

21:12 , Matt Verri

Well that's flattened the mood a bit, though not in the away end!

Not four minutes after Neto makes it 2-0, Chelsea have been punished for leaving Gent men completely unmarked in the box.

After a VAR check, game on once more.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Gent | Tsuyoshi Watanabe 50

21:10 , Matt Verri

Corner for Gent, as they look for an immediate response. Right in front of their away fans now.

And they get it!

Surdez has a shot blocked, but Gent stay on the attack and work it out.

Clipped back into the middle and Watanbe is completely free to nod into the bottom corner.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

21:08 , Matt Verri

Chelsea have all but done what they came here to do, 39 seconds into the second half.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Gent | Pedro Neto 46'

21:07 , Matt Verri

After about 40 seconds of the half!

Neto it is, he gets in behind and lashes a finish into the roof of the net at the near post.

Great ball from Disasi over the top.

Back underway!

21:06 , Matt Verri

Up and running at Stamford Bridge again.

Elsewhere in Europe

21:04 , Matt Verri

Here are some Europa League half-time scores for you.

Manchester United were two goals up against Porto, but have been pegged back to 2-2. Erik ten Hag under pressure...

How Chelsea opened the scoring...

20:56 , Matt Verri

Here is that goal from Veiga.

Lovely ball in from Mudryk, who had drifted over to the right wing for the first time, and a really good header.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

20:52 , Matt Verri

A one-goal margin in terms of the lead for Chelsea at the half-way stage, but they have been the better team in this first half.

Veiga's first Blues goal was a lovely header made by Mudryk's excellent cross and started by Dewsbury-Hall whose pass was nicely weighted. It was the one moment of real quality Chelsea have mustered so far.

Work to do still, though, with Gent having improved as the half wore on.

FT: Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:49 , Matt Verri

First-half comes to an end with Neto’s shot charged down.

Blues were on top in the early stages and threatened to run away with it, but Gent held on and then enjoyed a good spell themselves.

This match not done yet.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:47 , Matt Verri

45 mins: One minute added on.

Maresca will be keen to get his players in, after a fairly unconvincing 15 minutes or so.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:45 , Matt Verri

43 mins: Felix threatens to poke the ball away from Roef, but the goalkeeper does enough.

Mudryk then bursts past his man, cross is cleared away. Chelsea starting to get going again.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

20:43 , Matt Verri

Tempting fate a bit, there, the Chelsea fans, as they chant "Who are ya" to the corner taker as Gent take the set-piece.

Luckily for them, the Blues do get it clear. Gent growing, though.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:41 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Chelsea happy to slow things down and keep the ball, after that shaky period.

Or not. Badiashile has not been particularly impressive and he now knocks it straight out for a corner.

The theatrical flop as he did so not falling anyone, as it happens.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

20:38 , Matt Verri

More than a bit disconcerting that, if you're a Chelsea fan.

The space simply opened up for Archie Brown to receive from midfield.

Nice play by Gent to work the ball up the pitch, but a warning sign that Chelsea cannot afford to lose concentration.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:37 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Chelsea are suddenly looking a bit ragged at the back.

Brown whips in a superb ball, Ito can’t quite get the shot away as it falls to him. Chelsea really vulnerable, as Gudjohnsen now fires an effort at goal.

Just over the bar.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:35 , Matt Verri

33 mins: A chance for Gent - pretty much their first of the night.

There’s an almighty gap straight through the middle of the Chelsea defence and Brown is in on goal.

Pretty tame effort in the end, Jorgensen down comfortably to claim.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:34 , Matt Verri

32 mins: Free-kick out wide for Chelsea, Neto and Felix standing over it. Up come the defenders.

It’s the out-swinger from Neto, Tosin rises highest but can’t keep the header down.

He wanted a corner, goal-kick given.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:31 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Gent finally do get a bit of possession, switched out to Brown and he lets it straight under his boot.

Belgian fans still making plenty of noise, they’re going to enjoy their night in London regardless of the result.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

20:27 , Matt Verri

Plenty of fluidity about Chelsea down the left, where Dewsbury-Hall, Mudryk, Felix and Nkunku have all popped up to receive from left-back and goalscorer Veiga.

It's a patient performance from Chelsea so far, who are just trying to turn the screw now, in search of that second goal.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:26 , Matt Verri

24 mins: Jorgensen having a lovely old night, just watching the fun at the other end.

Dewsbury-Hall’s effort blocked, another Chelsea corner coming up.

Felix whips in a cross to the back post, Tosin can’t quite play it back into the middle.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:24 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Badiashile keeps trying to fire passes through the lines, into the forward players.

Felix steps over this one, Nkunku flicks it into his path but the former Atletico man can’t quite poke the ball through to create room for the shot.

Those two clearly enjoy playing with each other.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:21 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Looks to be a real chance for Nkunku in the box, but he’s closed down just as tries to lash an effort a goal.

Gent then lose it and Chelsea can break, Neto leading the charge.

Into the box, lays it off to Dewsbury-Hall and he slams it into the side-netting! Plenty thought that was in.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:20 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Chelsea working really hard in the couple of seconds they are without the ball, immediately winning it back.

Dangerous moments have pretty much all come down the right. Neto looks really sharp.

Chelsea 1-0 Gent

20:16 , Matt Verri

14 mins: Gent haven’t had a kick for about ten minutes.

Chelsea playing with loads of confidence now, as you’d expect. Could be a long night for the visitors.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

20:15 , Matt Verri

An assist for Mudryk will do him the world of good, but the no-look pass into him from Dewsbury-Hall made the goal possible.

It's then an excellent header from the left-back, Veiga. Chelsea up and running.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Gent | Renato Veiga 12'

20:14 , Matt Verri

Could see that coming a mile off!

Chelsea utterly dominant in the last five minutes or so and Gent cannot hold out any longer.

Mudryk moves over to that right wing, dinks a cross to the back post and Veiga arrives to score with a header back across goal.

Chelsea 0-0 Gent

20:12 , Matt Verri

10 mins: Starting to become a bit ominous for Gent.

Chelsea are clicking into gear, starting to really build the pressure and pin the visitors back.

Neto allowed to drift inside onto this left foot, great block as he shoots from 20 yards out.

Chelsea 0-0 Gent

20:10 , Matt Verri

8 mins: Better from Chelsea, as Neto gets to the byline and wins a corner.

Neto takes it himself, cleared away comfortably. Portuguese winger gets another chance, better ball in this time but Mitrovic is there to head it out.

Felix then drifts into the box, lovely footwork... shot blocked.

Chelsea 0-0 Gent

20:08 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Not exactly an all-action start to this match.

Chelsea haven’t really got going, beyond a couple of nice touches from Felix. All very sluggish at the moment.

Chelsea 0-0 Gent

20:05

3 mins: It’s Gent looking dangerous already.

Ball clipped into the box, Gudjohnsen could turn and get a shot away but opts to flick it back... to a Chelsea shirt. Not a great decision.

Offside flag up anyway.

KICK-OFF!

20:02

Up and running at Stamford Bridge!

Here we go!

19:58 , Matt Verri

Big roar as the players walk out onto the pitch. For once in London it’s not raining.

Time for the Conference League anthem, which I’m sure you are all very excited for.

Not long now...

19:53 , Matt Verri

Players will be in the tunnel in the next couple of minutes.

Would there there will be no complacency in the Chelsea ranks tonight, with pretty much every player in the side looking to prove they deserve more first-team opportunities.

It’s a big night for all of them.

Chelsea in strong form

19:47 , Matt Verri

Chelsea have lost only one of the eight matches they have played since they were beaten by Man City on the opening day of the season.

That came away to Servette in the Europa Conference League qualifying play-off round, but it was still enough to progress on aggregate.

Chaos is never too far away at Stamford Bridge, but it’s been impressive on the pitch, on the whole, from Enzo Maresca’s side.

Potter opens up on Chelsea culture

19:41 , Matt Verri

Graham Potter has lifted the lid on his sacking at Chelsea, revealing the one mistake he made regarding the owners and what made the job "impossible."

Potter lasted just seven months at Stamford Bridge after becoming Todd Boehly and Clearlake's first managerial appointment following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel in September 2022.

The former Brighton manager was tasked with overseeing a new revolution at Chelsea as the club spent record-breaking amounts to sign the world's best youngsters, but ended up being dismissed the following April with the lowest points-per-game return of any Chelsea manager.

Potter made a rare TV appearance, as a pundit on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football after more than 18 months out of the limelight, to discuss Chelsea, links with Manchester United and more.

“The culture at Chelsea over a period of time has got them success so I respect that," Potter said. "I suppose you could feel that from the outside, the media and the supporters. Perhaps the mistake I made was that I thought with new ownership there would be a change of culture.

“But culture runs a lot deeper than that. Before the World Cup, we’d only lost three matches in the Premier League — one to Arsenal, who were top at the time, and to Newcastle and Brighton away — but the world was closing in and we were close to crisis.”

Read his full comments here!

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

19:32 , Matt Verri

To put into perspective what Chelsea are up against, a Belgian journalist has just said Gent's priciest player cost £6m and is on the bench.

Chelsea's most expensive is on the bench too - £115m Moises Caicedo...

In the building!

19:26 , Matt Verri

If you were desperately hoping to watch a video of the Chelsea players strolling into Stamford Bridge, you really are in luck.

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

19:20 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca said this is a big night for the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku, and he is absolutely right.

Nkunku has delivered when called upon for the most part this season, but he was signed as an intended starter and is desperate to break into the club's Premier League starting XI.

So too is Mudryk, but he finds himself further out of the frame, hooked at half-time at Wolves in his only Premier League start this season, after which Maresca dug him out for his below-par display.

Gudjohnsen leading the line at Stamford Bridge...

19:13 , Matt Verri

Andri Gudjohnsen, son of former Chelsea striker Eidur, starts up front for Gent tonight.

The 22-year-old has spoken of his excitement to play at Stamford Bridge, a ground that brought so much success for his dad.

"It's quite typical, wasn't it, to get Chelsea in the draw?" he told BBC Sport.

"The first thing I did was call my father. He already knew. It's special for me and for him.

“I was born when my father played there. It's kind of a unique draw."

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

19:05 , Matt Verri

Can anyone stop Chelsea lifting the Conference League trophy next May?

Chelsea as expected!

18:59 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca makes plenty of changes, as we thought he would.

Jorgensen in goal, with Disasi slotting in at right-back and Veiga on the opposite side of the defence.

Plenty of pace and attacking threat in that front four - Neto, Felix, Mudryk and Nkunku. Could be a long night for Gent.

Madueke and Caicedo among those on the bench if required.

Gent team news

18:53 , Matt Verri

Starting 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 team news

18:48 , Matt Verri

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

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

Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

18:38 , Matt Verri

This is Chelsea's 300th match in European competition and it is difficult to think of one that mattered less than this.

Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites to win the Europa Conference League, with Real Betis, Fiorentina and Copenhagen just behind. Also considered in the mix are tonight's visitors, Gent. This really is Chelsea's tournament to lose.

They spent more this summer on transfers than every other team in the competition combined.

Mess up tonight - which they really shouldn't - and there will still be plenty of time to correct it in the rest of this six-game group phase.

Casadei explains decision to stay at Chelsea

18:33 , Matt Verri

Cesare Casadei believes he can become an “important” player for Chelsea, after revealing it was his decision not to leave the club on loan again this season.

The Italian midfielder is expected to start tonight against Gent.

Casadei, 21, spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Reading and played under Maresca on loan at Leicester in the first half of last season before being recalled by Chelsea in January.

He has made Chelsea’s squad for two Premier League games so far this season, and his only appearance during this campaign to date came in last week’s 5-0 win over Barro win the Carabao Cup.

“From the moment I decided to stay here, my goal is to become a Chelsea player — an important player for this team,” Casadei said on Wednesday.

“It was my decision [not to leave on loan this season]. Last season was not very easy for me, so at the start of this season I was thinking about what was the best solution for me.

“From the moment I spoke to the manager, I was 100 per cent sure that the decision to stay was best for me to improve and for my career.”

Jorgensen set for chance to shine

18:22 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca made no attempt to hide his frustration at having to answer a question about Chelsea’s goalkeeper situation, but he surely saw it coming.

Chelsea got away with the error-strewn performance of Robert Sanchez in Saturday’s meeting with Brighton thanks to Cole Palmer’s four-goal haul, yet Maresca will know that any criticism of Sanchez this season arrives at his door, too.

The Italian, after all, was responsible for restoring Sanchez to his previous status as Chelsea’s No1.

Sanchez was directly at fault for both of Brighton’s goals on Saturday. Little wonder, then, that Maresca was asked whether Filip Jorgensen, who will start tonight, can use the Conference League as a springboard to eventually replacing Sanchez in the Blues’ Premier League XI.

“Filip has to do well because we need him doing well, not because he has to put pressure on Robert,” a defiant Maresca said in his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge opener.

Read more on that here!

Chelsea reach 300...

18:11 , Matt Verri

Not exactly the most notable of landmarks, is it?

A 300th European match for Chelsea - try and contain your excitement.

Why is Cole Palmer not involved?

18:06 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca will be unable to call on star man Cole Palmer tonight or for the next five matches.

Indeed, the England international – along with Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia – all been left out of the club’s squad for the Conference League group stages.

The trio have not been included in a bid to manage their workloads across the gruelling campaign, in which Chelsea will be expected to go deep in every competition.

Lavia and Fofana continue to recover from long-term injuries, while Palmer is merely being rested. They could all return for the knockout stages, however.

“It’s very clear,’ Maresca said last month. “We try to protect the players.

“Romeo last year struggled to play [due to injury]. Wes Fofana exactly the same. Thinking about giving them minutes in the Premier League, they are not going to also play in the Conference League. We try to protect them.

“Cole is more or less is the same.”

Standard Sport prediction

17:55 , Matt Verri

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.

Chelsea team news

17:47 , Matt Verri

Chelsea look set to hand starts to both Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku in attack for tonight’s Conference League clash with Gent.

Chelsea will be without four-goal hero Cole Palmer, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia,who were all omitted from the squad submitted to UEFA for the group stage.

Meanwhile, Mudryk has only made one start in the Premier League so far this season, but Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted he and others can force their way into his starting XI for Premier League games if they perform well in Europe.

“Hopefully he can do a good game”, Maresca said of Mudryk. “But it’s not just Misha, also Christopher Nkunku. At the moment he’s not starting in the Premier League.

“It does not mean they’re not going to start in the next or two games — just this is the situation at the moment.”

Asked whether he regrets not including Chilwell in his Conference League squad to offer depth at full-back, Maresca asserted: “No.”

He said of his squad ahead of facing Gent: “They are all available, [apart from] the guys that are not in the squad and Reece [James]. They are all available.”

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku

How to watch Chelsea vs Gent

17:37 , Matt Verri

TV channel: The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, with coverage beginning at 7:45pm BST - after the conclusion of Tottenham’s Europa League game against Ferencvaros in Hungary. Kick-off is at 8pm.

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 right here, with Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge.

Good evening!

17:28 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Gent!

The Blues begin the serious business in the Conference League tonight, having come through qualifying earlier in the season. Have to think that anything other than a European trophy in May would be a disappointment for the club.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm BST from Stamford Bridge!