Chelsea Europa Conference League fixtures confirmed

Chelsea will be playing in the Europa Conference League for the first time and the Premier League side have learned their six opponents for the group stage.

The Blues finished sixth in the Premier League last season and defeated Servette at the qualification stage of the competition to qualify for the group stage draw. Having won the first leg 2-0, Chelsea lost 2-1 to Servette in the second leg.

Having qualified, Chelsea entered the draw well-fancied and with favourable chances after being included in Pot One alongside the likes of Real Betis, Fiorentina and FC Copenhagen.

Enzo Maresca’s side will now face Gent, Heidenheim, Astana, Shamrock Rovers, Panathinaikos and Noah. The Premier League side will play at home against Gent, Shamrock Rovers and Noah and their remaining opposition away with dates for the meetings to be confirmed on Saturday.

Chelsea will navigate a 36-team league stage where the top eight will advance to the round of 16. Those finishing from ninth to 24th competing in a play-off round. The London club will play each of their opponents once rather than in home and away legs.

Chelsea’s Europa Conference League fixtures:

Chelsea vs Gent (Belgium)

Heidenheim (Germany) vs Chelsea

Astana(Kazakhstan) vs Chelsea

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers (Ireland)

Panathinaikos (Greece) vs Chelsea

Chelsea vs Noah (Armenia).

Chelsea will be looking at winning the competition despite not being the biggest stage in European football. Speaking after ensuring qualification, Maresca said his team would do their best in the competition. “It’s one more competition,” the Blues boss said.

“We have Conference League, Premier League, FA Cup, the Carabao Cup – they are all competitions where we are going to try and do our best and then we will see where we arrive.”