Chelsea marked their first-ever appearance in the Conference League with a 4-2 win over visiting Belgian side Gent. Manager Enzo Maresca utilised his large squad, naming an entirely different starting XI to the one that played in the league at the weekend.

Renato Veiga headed Chelsea into the lead in the 12th minute, which Pedro Neto then doubled one minute after the interval.

Tsuyoshi Watanabe made it 2-1 in the 50th minute but two goals from Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in seven minutes killed off the tie before Omri Gandelman scored a consolation. A 44th-minute penalty by Michael Baidoo was enough to give Elfsborg a surprise 1-0 win at home to Roma, who sit on one point after two games.

Elsewhere, Cercle Brugge cruised to a 6-2 victory at home to Swiss club St Gallen as Legia Warsaw surprised Real Betis 1-0 in the Polish capital. Larne became the first Northern Irish team to play in a UEFA competition proper, but succumbed to a 3-0 defeat in Norway against Molde.

The New Saints of Wales also made their debut in the league phase of a European competition away to twice Conference League runners-up Fiorentina where the hosts need two second-half goals to emerge 2-0 winners.

October 3, 2024

T. Watanabe

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