In the midst of their domestic struggles, Chelsea’s players will travel to Greece to face Panathinaikos in the second leg of the Conference League. Enzo Maresca’s side were defeated 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday, but a continental adventure may be just what they need to get their season back on track.
Panathinaikos, meanwhile, earned a fourth-place finish in the Greek Super League last season and impressed in the play-offs against Lens to secure their spot in the group stage. They opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bosnian side Borac, while Chelsea dominated Gent 4-2 at home.
For Maresca, this fixture provides an opportunity to rest and rotate his players, who have struggled with injuries and suspensions. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is a doubt due to a head injury, which could pave the way for a start for Enzo Fernandez, who was left out of the XI on Sunday. Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella missed the trip to Liverpool due to suspensions and are likely to be preserved for the weekend’s league match against Newcastle United.
In the visitors’ probable starting lineup, Axel Disasi is set to start at right-back, with Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku likely to feature in attack. Chelsea have not exactly been firing on all cylinders, but this group of players has shown impressive cohesion, particularly in their 4-2 win over Gent.
As for Panathinaikos, they have appointed new manager Diego Alonso, but his side have struggled to find their footing in the league. When we look at their predicted lineup, we see a mix of experience and youth, with the inclusion of former Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri, who has been impressing in the Greek top flight. However, their start to the season has been underwhelming, and they will need to find a way to overcome Chelsea’s strong squad.
The hosts may not have the talent or experience of their opponents, but they have shown flashes of brilliance in patches. New manager Alonso has a reputation for getting the best out of his teams, and it will be interesting to see how quickly he can turn things around. Ultimately, a draw is not out of the question, and a 1-1 scoreline seems like a plausible outcome.
