Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers Prediction: Another routine win for Maresca’s men

Chelsea's final Uefa Conference League match of 2024 sees them welcome Shamrock Rovers to Stamford Bridge on Thursday (20:00, TNT Sports 1). The Blues have won all of their matches to date and top the standings with 15 points. They have already secured their place in the knockout stage.

The Irish visitors have fared well themselves so far with 11 points from their opening five games and they are yet to be beaten. Below you will find my Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers prediction, including the latest match odds and team news.

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers Odds

Chelsea are 1/16 to win this match, giving them an implied probability of 94.1%. As the bookies' favourite to win this competition, you won't find much value in covering them to win this season.

Shamrock Rovers are 33/1 (2.9%) to pull off an upset in west London. They might be unbeaten but they haven't faced an opponent as tough as Chelsea yet. The draw is on offer at 11/1 (8.3%), which has landed in two of Rovers' European encounters so far.

Both teams to score has been a winning selection in three of Chelsea's matches in this competition so far, and it is priced at 11/8 for this clash. Over 4.5 goals has delivered in both of Chelsea's home ties so far and is also available at 11/8 for Thursday.

Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku has scored five goals in Europe so far and is currently the joint-leading marksman in the competition. He has netted a brace on one occasion and he is 11/4 to bag a brace against Shamrock Rovers.

Football Odds

Team News

Big news emerged on Tuesday as it was reported that Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk had failed a routine Football Association drug test, with his sample including traces of a banned doping substance. The Ukrainian denies taking any supplements knowingly. He now faces a lengthy ban if a second test confirms the same result.

Mudryk has been handed a provisional suspension by the FA until this matter is concluded. He has been absent for Chelsea's last five matches and that is going to continue for the foreseeable future.

In his absence, boss Enzo Maresca might turn to Jadon Sancho to take his spot on the left side, if he returns to a more senior-filled selection this time around. But with qualification secured, there might be more opportunities in store for the youngsters that were involved against Astana last week.

Nkunku and Joao Felix were not in the squad that travelled to face Astana last week and could be recalled for the squad to face Shamrock Rovers. Joao Felix will hoping for a decent run out after he was not included in the squad to face Brentford in the Premier League last weekend.

Midfielder Romeo Lavia was another who missed out and he could return to action in this clash. Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Omari Kellyman are all out with hamstring injuries, with the latter still yet to feature for Chelsea since joining from Aston Villa over the summer.

Benoit Badiashile is out with an unspecified injury and he has been absent from the last two squads against Brentford and Astana.

Shamrock Rovers have no fresh injury concerns heading into this game. Forward Johnny Kenny is having a great time in Europe with five goals already this term. He's expected to lead the line at Stamford Bridge as his club hopes for a historic night against the Premier League giants.

Chelsea to win 3-0 @ 11/2

I must admit that I don't know what to expect from the Chelsea lineup on Thursday. We could see some of the stars return but after last week we could see another youthful squad take centre stage. Maresca could be looking to save the more senior stars for league action if required seeing as qualification in Europe has already been secured.

That being said, those who are not getting regular minutes in the Premier League and missed out against Astana will likely be pushing to play in this match as it would give them another opportunity to impress the Italian coach as they try to force their way into the main XI.

Nkunku and Joao Felix are the first two that come to mind here, and if both are included on Thursday, they will want to give strong performance ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton in the top flight.

I can see Maresca naming a slightly stronger XI here than he did a week ago, which won't be good news for Shamrock Rovers ahead of their toughest test of the campaign.

There is no beating around the bush that Chelsea are expected to lift this trophy come the end of the season and many of the teams they are facing at the moment are expected to be brushed aside with relative ease.

As much as Rovers have impressed on this stage so far, they have not faced a team of this calibre and the gulf in class should be clear for all to see when they take to the field on Thursday night.

Chelsea have had no issues with scoring goals in this competition with 21 recorded already, so I think we will see another proficient attacking performance from them. They have managed just two clean sheets so far, though, and there might be an emphasis to register a third here as they are at home.

As such, I like the look of a 3-0 scoreline in the Blues' favour for this contest.

Christopher Nkunku first goalscorer @ 3/1

This is where most of Nkunku's game time has come this season but he has been making the most of it. Five goals in four outings is a very respectable return, and if he's to be restored to the squad to face Rovers, I think he will have a huge role to play again.

His anytime price to score wasn't particularly enticing so I have gone for him to open the scoring. This is because this was a winning selection in his last European appearance in the 2-0 victory over Heidenheim last month.

I was torn between the Frenchman and Joao Felix, but seeing as the former has scored one more than his teammate, that has swayed me to back him on Thursday.

Offers

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