Chelsea got their Europa Conference League campaign off to the perfect start by beating Gent 4-2 at Stamford Bridge this evening, extending their winning run to five matches.
Enzo Maresca once again changed his entire starting XI in a cup competition, and that allowed Renato Veiga and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to score their first goals for the club on an overall routine night for the Blues.
Veiga's strike saw Chelsea lead 1-0 at the interval, and Pedro Neto added a second less than a minute into the second half, as Chelsea looked on course to cruise to victory.
However, the hosts were given a minor scare when Tsuyoshi Watanabe scored just his second European goal to bring the Belgian side back into the game only four minutes later.
Christopher Nkunku settled the nerves just after the hour mark though, scoring in his fourth consecutive start, before Dewsbury-Hall added some gloss to the scoreline shortly after.
Late substitute Omri Gandelman added a late consolation for Gent in the final minute of the 90, but that did little to dampen the mood at the Bridge, as Chelsea make it five in a row in all competitions.
The Blues are huge favourites to win the Conference League outright, with Gent one of their closest contenders according to the pre-competition markets, so this will only strengthen their chances in a competition that has served English clubs well since its inception.
CHELSEA VS. GENT HIGHLIGHTS
Renato Veiga goal vs. Gent (12th min, Chelsea 1-0 Gent)
Mykhaylo Mudryk gets into some space on the right-hand side before lifting his head to find a cross, and Renato Veiga latches onto it to head home his first goal in Chelsea blue!
Pedro Neto goal vs. Gent (46th min, Chelsea 2-0 Gent)
The worst possible start to the second half for Gent as Watanabe and Archie Brown make a mess of clearing the ball, allowing Neto to nip in between them and fire beyond Davy Roef in the visitor's goal.
Watanabe goal vs. Chelsea (50th min, Chelsea 2-1 Gent)
Now this is a turn up! Just minutes after Chelsea though they were home and dry, Andri Gudjohnsen's looping cross is met by Watanabe, who atones for his earlier error, and the Belgian side are back in it.
Nkunku goal vs. Gent (63rd min, Chelsea 3-1 Gent)
Normal service is resumed at the Bridge, and it is Nkunku yet again in a cup competition with his sixth goal in four starts.
The Frenchman latches on to a loose ball in the penalty area and his powerful strike goes straight through Roef and into the back of the net.
Dewsbury-Hall goal vs. Gent (70th min, Chelsea 4-1 Gent)
Another of Chelsea's new boys get his first goal as Dewsbury-Hall nets their fourth of the night! Stefan Mitrovic makes a clean tackle on the on-rushing Nkunku, but the ball falls favourable for the midfielder, and Roef is questionable once again in the Gent goal, as another shot slips through him.
Gandelman goal vs. Chelsea (90th min, Chelsea 4-2 Gent)
In nothing more than a consolation, two substitutes link up as Max Dean tees up Israeli international Gandelman to score his fourth goal in Europe this season.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Renato Veiga
Starting out of position at left-back, Renato Veiga was excellent at both ends of the pitch, also winning six out of six duels, and creating a further big chance as he continues to show his worth to Maresca, despite not being a regular in the Premier League XI.
CHELSEA VS. GENT MATCH STATS
Possession: Chelsea 69%-31% Gent
Shots: Chelsea 15-9 Gent
Shots on target: Chelsea 4-3 Gent
Corners: Chelsea 10-4 Gent
Fouls: Chelsea 5-6 Gent
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
Chelsea will look to continue their brilliant run of form when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge in a fourth straight home match at the weekend, while Gent make the trip to St Truiden on Sunday evening as they look to close a six-point gap at the top of the Belgian Pro League.
