Chelsea eased to a 4-1 victory over Gent in the opening game of their Conference League league phase campaign on Thursday night.

The Blues were dominant throughout, with three points always on the agenda after Renato Veiga headed the hosts into an early lead.

Their second goal didn’t arrive until the start of the second half, and while Gent threatened a resurgence after Pedro Neto’s scored, Chelsea made no mistake and eventually eased to victory.

Thursday’s win was Chelsea’s fifth on the bounce in all competitions.

How the match unfolded

Chelsea were big favourites entering the contest, and the depth of the squad allowed Enzo Maresca to make 11 changes from the team that beat Brighton 4-2 at the weekend. This was a big opportunity for the ‘cup’ XI to impress, and Veiga certainly seemed intent on making the most of the chance.

The versatile defender headed Chelsea into an early lead with the Blues starting the contest camped in the Gent half. In the aftermath, though, much of their possession seemed sterile. While they controlled the first-half, visiting goalkeeper Davy Roef was barely tested. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall did fire a shot into the side-netting from a good position, though.

Gent had a brief spell of pressure at the other end with Andri Gudjohnsen, son of Eidur – watching from the stands, blazing a fierce effort over from inside the area after Archie Brown had forced an easy save out of Filip Jorgensen.

There were goals at both ends to kick off the second half with Pedro Neto’s effort being cancelled out by a pinpoint Tsuyoshi Watanabe header. Chelsea, however, did a fine job of preventing the Belgian side from building any momentum after they brought themselves back into the game, and they soon reasserted their dominance.

Christopher Nkunku, off the back of a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup last week, thundered home Chelsea’s third before Dewsbury-Hall pounced on the loose ball on the edge of the Gent box and squeezed home the hosts’ fourth.

The hosts’ control did relent during the game’s final act and Gent’s spirit has to be commended. The visitors grabbed a late consolation through substitute Omri Gandelman, but there was never any doubt over the result.

GK: Filip Jorgensen – 6/10 – Beaten by a pinpoint header, but the summer arrival was otherwise secure with pretty much every action. Was barely tested.

RB: Axel Disasi – 5/10 – Had a tussle on his hands with Brown in the second half and was booked for bringing down the Englishman. Chelsea’s captain on the night did play the ball in behind which led to their second goal. Not sure how he didn’t get himself on the scoresheet!

CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – 6/10 – Much of Tosin’s work came on the halfway line against a Gent mid-block as he tried to play through the lines. He generally favoured the safe route, typifying what was a fairly sturdy showing.

CB: Benoit Badiashile – 6/10 – Had his moments in the first half, but you’ve got to admire the swagger he carries in possession. Strokes his passes beautifully through the lines, and Badiashile also produced a couple of dominant defensive sequences.

LB: Renato Veiga – 8/10 – Maresca’s utility man. Veiga’s got a few things to work on defensively, but he’s a bundle of fun in possession and he was used almost like a left-sided midfielder in a diamond shape. Headed home his first Chelsea goal early on.

CM: Cesare Casadei – 7/10 – Not a natural #6 and was tasked with plenty of on-ball responsibility in this one. Could’ve been more positive at times, but was generally secure – even if he did dither in possession on occasions.

CM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 7/10 – Didn’t think his role on the right of the diamond particularly suited him given how left-footed he is, but he did end up on the scoresheet. Played with much more conviction after finding the back of the net after misplacing multiple passes in the opening period.

RM: Pedro Neto – 7/10 – Produced a couple of bustling runs in the first half and his perseverance was rewarded with a goal at the start of the second period.

AM: Joao Felix – 6/10 – Style without too much substance. That’s the Joao Felix way.

LM: Mykhaylo Mudryk – 7/10 – Chelsea’s most dangerous attacker throughout, and it was his delicious cross for Veiga which got the ball rolling. Constantly sought to penetrate in behind.

ST: Christopher Nkunku – 7/10 – Barely had a sniff until he crashed home the third goal. Nkunku continues to produce on the output front.

Substitutes

SUB: Marc Guiu (80′ for Nkunku) – 5/10

SUB: Tyrique George (80′ for Neto) – 6/10

Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (GK), Lucas Bergstrom (GK), Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Moises Caicedo, Kiano Dyer

Manager

Enzo Maresca – 7/10 – Three points and all those set to start this weekend were rested. It was a successful night for the Chelsea manager, but the concession of two goals will be a source of annoyance.

Player of the match: Renato Veiga

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