Conference League favourites Chelsea welcome competition debutants FC Noah to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
In a momentous occasion for the young Armenian club, this will be their first trip to England, but they will be up against it against a Chelsea side that has looked imperious on the continent so far.
In the first two matchdays of this competition, Chelsea faced two clubs with real ambition of going far in Europe this season, and dispatched them both comfortably, as Gent and Panathinaikos were swept aside with little fuss.
Enzo Maresca‘s makeshift cup side netted four goals in both of those wins, meaning it is no surprise that out of the nine teams to have won their opening Conference League games, they have the best goal difference, and sit top.
Despite the final in Wroclaw being at least 11 games away, Chelsea are almost odds on with the bookmakers to win the competition this season, and become the first to win all four of UEFA’s major club competitions – also including the defunct Club Winners’ Cup.
Chelsea’s next opponents will be the lowest-ranked of any they will face in the league phase, and a stress-free evening is expected before two awkward away trips to come.
As has been the case in all of Chelsea’s cup games so far, the team that will take to the field here will be very different from the one that drew 1-1 at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Sunday.
With a clash against London rivals Arsenal to come at the weekend, all of the Blues’ key players will be kept fresh for that, as they seek to extend their lead over the Gunners to three points with a win, which would also keep them in the Premier League’s top four.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
