Chelsea are set to face FC Noah on Thursday night in a UEFA Conference League showdown at Stamford Bridge, marking a monumental chapter for the young Armenian club.
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While this will be Noah’s first-ever trip to England, Chelsea enters as the overwhelming favorite, having dominated their initial matches in the competition.
Match Preview
Chelsea’s impressive start in the Conference League has showcased their depth and attacking prowess. In their first two matchdays, Enzo Maresca’s side dispatched both Gent and Panathinaikos with commanding 4-0 victories, establishing themselves as serious contenders and topping the standings with the best goal difference among the nine undefeated teams.
With the final still 11 games away in Wroclaw, Chelsea is viewed by many as favorites to lift the trophy, potentially making them the first club to win all four major UEFA competitions, including the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup. Thursday’s opponents, FC Noah, represent the lowest-ranked team Chelsea will face in this phase. A straightforward match is expected before Chelsea’s trickier away fixtures, which include a visit to Bundesliga newcomers Heidenheim and a grueling December trip to Astana in the harsh Kazakh winter.
Maresca’s approach in cup games has heavily featured squad rotation, and the team fielded against Manchester United in their recent 1-1 draw will likely be unrecognizable here. Key players will rest ahead of a crucial Premier League encounter with Arsenal on the weekend, where a victory could extend Chelsea’s points lead over their London rivals and solidify their spot in the top four.
FC Noah’s Remarkable Journey
For Noah, established as recently as 2017 and named after the biblical figure, this match is the realization of an incredible dream. As the youngest team competing in Europe this season, their progress has defied expectations.
Noah overcame the odds by advancing from the first qualifying round through four subsequent stages, including memorable wins against AEK Athens and Ruzomberok. Their journey has captivated fans, even though away form has proven problematic; they secured only a draw in Malta and lost their last three road games, including a defeat at Rapid Vienna on matchday two.
Despite their challenges on the road, Noah’s opening victory over Mlada Boleslav keeps their knockout hopes alive. The Armenian side rides a wave of confidence from four consecutive domestic wins, during which they netted 14 goals. While realistic about their slim chances in London, Noah targets upcoming home matches against Vikingur and APOEL as potential springboards to advance from the group.
Team News and Lineups
Chelsea is poised to make sweeping changes for the match, with Maresca likely giving opportunities to younger talents. Cole Palmer, recovering from a knee knock sustained against Manchester United, is already ruled out as he isn’t registered for European games. This will allow him time to recuperate before facing Arsenal.
Pedro Neto’s form has pushed him into Chelsea’s main league lineup, but Jadon Sancho, now fit after illness, may return to start and gain valuable minutes.
For Noah, left-back Gudmundur Thorarinsson is sidelined after his early substitution in their last European outing, joining midfielder Martin Gambos on the injury list. Forward Goncalo Gregorio, who has impressed with goals in both qualifying and domestic matches, is likely to be recalled to bolster Noah’s attack. Goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic, famous for an extraordinary long-range goal against AEK, will have his hands full and will need to replicate his six-save performances from their earlier matches.
Probable Lineups:
- Chelsea: Jorgensen; Renato Veiga, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella; Enzo, Dewsbury-Hall; Sancho, Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
- FC Noah: Cancarevic; Mendoza, Goncalo Silva, Muradyan, Hambardzumyan; Eteki, Oulad Omar, Sangare; Helder Ferreira, Goncalo Gregorio, Pinson.
Prediction
While FC Noah has shown resilience, Chelsea’s quality and depth should comfortably see them through. A clean sheet has eluded the Blues in recent fixtures, but Noah’s limited firepower may not pose a substantial threat. A professional, commanding performance is expected from Chelsea, with a convincing win likely to be on the cards.
