Chelsea will aim to continue the perfect start to the 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League campaign when they face Panathinaikos at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Thursday.
The UEFA Europa Conference League resumes this midweek with Matchday 2 of the 2024/25 season. Chelsea will be eager to return to winning ways this week when they lock horns with Panathinaikos at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Panathinaikos reached the UEFA Europa Conference League after failing to qualify for the Europa League, with Ajax beating them on penalties. The Greek outfit clinched a narrow 3-2 win over RC Lens to progress to the first phase. However, they began their European campaign with a 1-1 draw with Borac Banja Luka.
The Greens have blown hot and cold in domestic football this season, winning only three of their eight games thus far, sitting in the eighth spot in the Greek Super League standings. As for Chelsea, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool this past weekend, with the result halting their momentum and dropping them from fourth to sixth on the Premier League table.
The West London club qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League after beating Servette in the only qualification round they participated in. The Blues began their European campaign with a 4-2 win over KAA Gent.
Thursday’s match will be the first-ever fixture featuring Panathinaikos and Chelsea. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the maiden meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Panathinaikos
Diego Alonso does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Chelsea on Thursday, the Panathinaikos manager will be bereft of the services of only one first-team player.
Fotis Ioannidis remains on the sidelines, with the Greek striker recovering from an adductor issue. Meanwhile, Dimitris Limnios, Zeca and Tonny Vilhena are ineligible as they are not in the home side’s UEFA Europa Conference League squad.
Bartlomiej Dragowski should take his spot between the sticks, with Panathinaikos lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Chelsea on Thursday. The backline should feature Giannis Kotsiras, Tin Jedvaj, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, and Filip Mladenovic.
As for the midfield unit, Nemanja Maksimovic should pair up with Adam Gnezda Cerin in the double pivot. The duo will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park and allow Anastasios Bakasetas to express himself from the no. 10 role. Finally, Alexander Jeremejeff will lead the line for the home side, with Filip Djuricic and Facundo Pellistri being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Dragowski; Kotsiras, Jedvaj, Ingason, Mladenovic; Maksimovic, Cerin; Pellistri, Bakasetas, Djuricic; Jeremejeff
Chelsea
Unlike his counterpart in the Panathinaikos dugout, Enzo Maresca does not have any new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Athens Olympic Stadium. The Chelsea manager will have a full-strength squad on Thursday.
Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana are the only absentees, with Maresca excluding the trio from the UEFA Europa Conference League squad to manage their fitness.
Filip Jorgensen is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Panathinaikos on Thursday. The backline should feature Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, and Renato Veiga.
As for the midfield unit, Cesare Casadei will make a rare start, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall lining up alongside him in the double pivot. Joao Felix will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Mykhailo Mudryk being the two wide attackers. Finally, Christopher Nkunku should spearhead the Chelsea attack on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku
Key Stats
- Thursday’s match-up will be the first-ever meeting between Panathinaikos and Chelsea.
- Panathinaikos have scored two or more goals in ten of their last 20 matches.
- Chelsea have scored two or more goals in 14 of their 20 most recent matches.
- Chelsea’s seven-match unbeaten run ended against Liverpool this past weekend.
- However, the Blues remain unbeaten in six previous matches against Greek opposition.
Player to Watch
Christopher Nkunku
Enzo Maresca has made a clear differentiation of his Premier League squads and other competitions. While Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Jadon Sancho are the first-choice attackers in the Premier League, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, and Mykhailo Mudryk get the nod in Europe and cup competitions.
Nkunku, in particular, is increasingly frustrated with his situation, and the Frenchman might seek a departure from Stamford Bridge if his situation does not improve in the coming weeks. So, the onus is on him to step up in the UEFA Europa Conference League and earn starts in the Premier League. That begins with the game against Panathinaikos on Thursday.
Prediction
Panathinaikos 1-3 Chelsea
With Fotis Ioannidis still unavailable, the goals have not come at the desired rate for Panathinaikos. That will continue on Thursday, although the home side will trouble the Chelsea defence at times.
However, the gulf in quality between the two sides will prove telling as the minutes wear on, and Chelsea will be too strong for Diego Alonso’s side. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges, with Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto making the difference.