Chelsea to play Belgium's Gent in Conference League opener

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

English Premier League side Chelsea will play Belgium's Gent in their UEFA Europa Conference League opener at 1900GMT on Thursday.

The match at Stamford Bridge will be the first time that two-time Champions League champions the Blues will face 2022-23 Conference League quarterfinalists Genk.

Gent boss Wouter Vrancken said of the upcoming duel: "Playing football at Stamford Bridge is always special."

Gent's Israeli midfielder Omri Gandelman may not play against Chelsea, which may make things a bit more difficult for Vrancken's side.

This is Chelsea's first Conference League campaign under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

Apart from English fullback Reece James' hamstring injury, Maresca will have his full squad available for the Conference League match.

- UEFA Europa Conference League Fixtures:

- Wednesday:

Istanbul Basaksehir vs. SK Rapid Wien

Vitoria de Guimaraes vs. NK Celje

- Thursday:

FC Heidenheim 1846 vs. Olimpija Ljubljana

Astana vs. Backa Topola

Cercle Brugge vs. St Gallen

Dinamo Minsk vs. Hearts

Legia Warsaw vs. Real Betis

Molde vs. Larne

Noah vs. Mlady Boleslav

Omonia Nicosia vs. Vikingur Reykjavik

Borac vs. Panathinaikos

Chelsea vs. Gent

FC Copenhagen vs. Jagiellonia Bialystok

FC Lugano vs. HJK Helsinki

Fiorentina vs. The New Saints FC

Linz ASK vs. Djurgardens

Petrocub-Hincesti vs. Pafos

Shamrock Rovers vs. Apoel Nicosia