rewrite this title Chelsea vs Noah: Preview, predictions and lineups

Chelsea will face an Armenian side for the first time in their history on Thursday evening when they host FC Noah in the Europa Conference League.

The Blues return to European action after a challenging few weeks. Since their 4-1 demolition of Panathinaikos, they have faced Newcastle United home and away – winning at Stamford Bridge and losing on the road – and visited Manchester United. Their clash with Noah is followed by a tantalising fixture with London rivals Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca’s side currently lead the table in the Conference League after triumphing in their opening two matches. High-scoring victories see them claim top spot on goal difference and they are likely to add significantly to the eight goals they have scored on Thursday evening.

Noah, who were only founded in 2017, can be proud of their European campaign thus far. In the league phase, they have already beaten Mlada Boleslav before falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Rapid Wien last time out. However, a trip to Stamford Bridge is an entirely different proposition.

Here is 90min’s guide to Chelsea’s clash with minnows Noah.

Chelsea vs Noah H2H Record

This is the first ever competitive fixture between Chelsea and Noah.

Current form (all competitions)

Maresca has revealed that star performer Cole Palmer is a doubt ahead of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal in the Premier League. The England international isn’t registered in the Conference League squad and would have earned a rest on Thursday regardless.

Jadon Sancho, who missed a return to Old Trafford on Sunday, is also a doubt for Arsenal’s visit as he recovers from illness and deals with a knock suffered in training.

Maresca has made wholesale changes and used his second-string XI for the Conference League and will do the same on Thursday evening. The likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku are likely to come into the team.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Noah (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Veiga, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella; Dewsbury-Hall, Fernandez; George, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.

Noah don’t boast many faces familiar to Chelsea supporters but they do have a host of exciting talents from across Europe and South America within their ranks. Portuguese forward Goncalo Gregorio is their eye-catching sharpshooter with 12 goals in 18 matches this term.

In terms of injuries, Icelandic left-back Gudmundur Thorarinsson and Slovakia midfielder Martin Gambos are the Armenian side’s sidelined players at present

Noah predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3): Cancarevic; Mendoza, Silva, Muradyan, Hambardzumyan; Eteki, Omar, Sangare; Helder, Gregorio, Pinson

Chelsea have frequently called upon their remarkably deep squad this season and will do so again for the visit of Noah. The Armenian underdogs will do well to keep the scoreline down at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea’s alternate XI boasting a ludicrous amount of talent.

Having already put four past Gent and Panathinaikos in Europe, the Blues could improve upon that tally this Thursday in what will be the biggest game in Noah’s seven-year history.

Prediction: Chelsea 5-0 Noah

READ THE LATEST CHELSEA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP