Chelsea's Road in the New-Look Europa Conference League
Chelsea are gearing up for a Europa adventure that looks very different this season. The 2024/25 Europa Conference League ditches the old group format for a league phase, which means more variety and more unpredictability in each match. After scraping past Servette in the qualifiers, Chelsea landed a spot in Pot 1 and drew up an intriguing list of opponents: Gent, Heidenheim, Astana, Shamrock Rovers, Panathinaikos, and Noah. That’s a big change from the repetitive nature of the old group stage—now, every game counts for a spot in the next round.
The fixtures are stacked between October and December, giving fans barely enough time to catch their breath before the next showdown. Here’s how Chelsea’s schedule stacks up:
- October 3: Gent visit Stamford Bridge
- October 24: Away trip to Panathinaikos—a testy Greek night
- November 7: Noah arrive in London
- November 28: Away game against Bundesliga’s Heidenheim
- December 12: Journey to face Astana’s stubborn defense
- December 19: Wrap up the phase at home to Shamrock Rovers
Competition points work differently too. It’s three for a win, one for a draw, and the leaderboard can swing wildly. The final eight zoom right into the Round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 24th sweat it out in a playoff for the last knockout berths. This means every result, every goal, shapes who comes out on top—and with 36 teams all scrambling to climb the rankings, surprises are inevitable.
Key Opponents, Formats, and Where to Watch
Chelsea’s list of rivals brings a mix of historic clubs and fresh faces. Gent from Belgium are no pushovers, and Panathinaikos often turn their Athens atmosphere into a cauldron, rattling even experienced squads. Astana offer long travel and tricky conditions, while German rookies Heidenheim are eager to announce themselves. Shamrock Rovers tap into Dublin’s football tradition, and Noah offer a wildcard, hoping to use their underdog status.
The Blues already showed their mettle in April 2025 by squeezing past Legia Warsaw in a tense quarterfinal. They lost at home 2-1 but took the tie 4-2 on aggregate, proving you can never write them off no matter the scenario.
For fans itching to follow every twist, the action is spread across a bunch of broadcasters. UK supporters can tune in through TNT Sport and discovery+, while American fans have CBS, CBSSN, and Paramount+. Down under, Stan Sport has the coverage, DAZN rules in Canada, and India’s got live games on Sony TEN and JioTV. No matter where you are, there’s probably a way to watch.
Ticket sales have also gone local. You’ll need to get them through the clubs themselves—don’t expect to buy from UEFA directly. Still struck out? The resale world is alive and well on StubHub International, though prices and availability shift depending on who’s coming to town and just how much the fans crave a big night under the lights.