Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers predictions, odds and betting tips

The league phase of the Conference League concludes on Thursday with Chelsea playing at home. 

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers best bets

• Chelsea -3.5 Asian handicap – 13/10 with bet365
• Both teams to score – 7/5 with Midnite
• Joao Felix to score any time – 5/6 with BetMGM

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers odds

Find the latest match odds for Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers predictions

Chelsea are flying high right now. A 2-1 victory over Brentford on Sunday was their fifth in a row in the Premier League and moved them within two points of leaders Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s side have a game in hand on Chelsea, but there is no longer any doubt about the latter’s status as title contenders – regardless of what their manager says.

“No matter how many games we win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title,” Enzo Maresca said after the weekend’s west London derby. 

“One of the reasons why is that the team that knows how to compete to win titles, they won’t concede goals we concede.

“Just two teams have conceded less than us. Defensively we’re not doing bad. We’d like to end with a clean sheet but there’s another team trying to score.”

He certainly has a point about Chelsea’s propensity to concede poor goals, but as Maresca also alluded to, only Arsenal and Liverpool have fared better defensively up to now.

Hardly anyone saw a title tilt coming. The common consensus was that Chelsea would struggle this term after yet another chaotic summer. A year of transition was expected, yet Chelsea are right in the mix in the Premier League as things stand.

The same is true in the Conference League, where Chelsea rank first out of 32 teams ahead of the sixth and final round of fixtures in the league phase. 

This is less of a surprise when you compare the size of the club to the opponents they have faced so far.

Still, you can only beat what is in front of you and Chelsea have done that with very little fuss. Maresca has used the Conference League as an opportunity to give game time to fringe members of his squad, and those reserves have grasped the chance with both hands in a bid to force their way into the Premier League group.

So while Chelsea are already through to the round of 16, the players that face Shamrock Rovers on Thursday have their own individual motivation for impressing the manager. That is bad news for the Irish outfit.

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Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers betting tips

Chelsea will be looking to make it six wins from six in the Conference League on Thursday.

Chelsea -3.5 Asian handicap

The Conference League was created for clubs like Shamrock Rovers, who frequently fell short in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers. 

They are enjoying every minute of the current campaign, not least because they have done much more than merely make up the numbers.

Rovers, who are one of only three participants yet to lose a game, rank sixth in the standings ahead of this trip to Stamford Bridge.

They are very much in the mix for a place in the last 16, for which a top-eight finish is required. Worst case, Rovers are guaranteed to be involved in the knockout phase play-offs.

Unfortunately, their unbeaten run will probably come to an end on Thursday. Chelsea have a goal difference of +17 and they are capable of thrashing their League of Ireland opponents on matchday six.

⚽ Back Chelsea with a -3.5 Asian handicap at 13/10 with bet365 ⚽

Both teams to score

Maresca was correct when he said that only two teams have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League this season, but the expected goals data suggests Chelsea ‘should’ have let in more than they have.

The defence is clearly the weak point for the Blues, although that has admittedly been less of a problem in the Conference League.

Still, there is a chance Chelsea will take their eye off the ball against Shamrock Rovers given they have already qualified for the last 16.

Their opponents are still fighting to advance and it is notable that they have scored in all five games up to now.

⚽ Tip both teams to score at 7/5 with Midnite ⚽

Joao Felix to score any time

When Joao Felix agreed a deal to return to Chelsea in the summer, he no doubt envisaged himself representing the club in the Premier League rather than the Conference League.

Yet the Portugal international has not yet earned a regular role in Maresca’s first team. Felix has started just two league games compared to three in Europe.

There is no point in throwing his toys out of the pram, however. The only thing Felix can do is to continue making an impact in the Conference League.

The former Atletico Madrid and Barcelona man missed the recent games against Astana and Brentford with a minor injury, but he is back in the frame ahead of Thursday’s clash.

Felix will be keen to make up for lost time against Shamrock Rovers as Chelsea aim to conclude the league phase in style.

⚽ Select Joao Felix to score any time at 5/6 with BetMGM ⚽

📺 How to watch Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers

• Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England.
• Date and time: Thursday 19th December, 8pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 1.

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