Panathinaikos vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions
Panathinaikos vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions. Enzo Maresca and his Chelsea side are on their travels in midweek as they journey to Greece to face Panathinaikos in their second league phase game of the 2024/25 Conference League.
While Enzo Maresca insisted he was not happy with Sunday’s outing at Liverpool, the Chelsea head coach wouldn’t have been too disheartened with his side’s 2-1 defeat at Anfield.
His team have slipped to sixth in the Premier League, but a continental adventure presents itself before Newcastle United visit Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Panathinaikos qualified for the Conference League after a fourth-place finish in the Greek Super League last season, and they progressed into the league phase after an impressive two-legged win over Lens in the play-offs.
Thursday’s hosts, who sit sixth in the Greek top flight currently this season, started their Conference League campaign with a 1-1 draw at Bosnian side Borac on Matchday 1, while Chelsea topped Gent 4-2 in west London.
Here’s how we preview Thursday’s Conference League duel in Athens.
What time does Panathinaikos vs Chelsea kick-off?
Location: Athens, Greece
Stadium: Panathenaic Stadium
Date: Thursday 24 October
Kick-off: 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
Referee: Antonio Nobre (POR)
VAR: André Narciso (POR)
Panathinaikos vs Chelsea H2H Record
This is the first competitive fixture between Panathinaikos and Chelsea.
Panathinaikos team news;
Philipp Max, former Augsburg and PSV Eindhoven player, is unlikely to feature on Thursday due to a muscle injury. The hosts are also without Dimitris Limnios, Zeca and Tonny Vilhena, three players who haven’t been included in Panathinaikos’ Conference League squad
The home side’s captain Fotis Ioannidis is also absent with an adductor issue.
Andraz Sporar missed the weekend’s win over OFI through illness, but is expected to recover in time for Thursday’s clash. Former Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri should be included in the hosts’ XI.
Panathinaikos predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Panathinaikos lineup (4-2-3-1): Dragowski; Kotsiras, Jedvaj, Ingason, Mladenovic; Maksimovic, Cerin; Pellistri, Bakasetas, Djuricic; Jeremejeff.
Chelsea team news;
It’s no doubt that Maresca will be making wholesale changes from the team that lost at Anfield on Sunday, the Chelsea head coach also confirmed goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is available to play, after little scare due to a head injury.
Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella were unable to feature against Liverpool last weekend after been suspended, but will be preserved for the weekend, and there could also be a start for Enzo Fernandez, who was left out of the starting XI on Sunday.
With Reece James and Malo Gusto minutes been managed, we should see Axel Disasi start at right-back, while Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku are sure bets to earn opportunities in attack.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Panathinaikos
Chelsea lineup (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Fernandez, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
Panathinaikos vs Chelsea score prediction;
The home side certainly aren’t shy of talent, but their start to the season has been pretty underwhelming. New manager Diego Alonso has sound credentials, but this Panathinaikos team are yet to find their groove. However, Chelsea are entering a tough environment on Thursday and whether they are going to blow past their opponents on Thursday evening, remains to be see.
Maresca will rotate heavily, but his reserve team have so far shown impressive cohesion, and they have also shown that they are also equal to the task as well, as they were impressive in spells against Gent.
Prediction: Panathinaikos 0-3 Chelsea
