Chelsea aims for back-to-back wins in the 2024-25 Conference League as they visit Panathinaikos at Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis on Thursday evening. The Blues started their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Gent, while the Greens managed a 1-1 draw with Bosnian side Borac Banja Luka.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca witnessed his side’s six-game unbeaten streak end with a 2-1 loss at Anfield to league leaders Liverpool last weekend. Nicolas Jackson equalised early in the second half, but Curtis Jones quickly restored Liverpool’s lead, leading to Chelsea’s first away league defeat this season.
Despite the setback, Maresca praised his team’s performance, calling it “one of the best of the season,” and expressed optimism for the future.
Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League and three points adrift of the top four, Chelsea prepares for upcoming matches against Newcastle United and Manchester United but must focus on the challenge ahead. Notably, Chelsea has never lost to Greek teams in European competition, recording four wins and two draws.
Panathinaikos ended a three-game winless streak with a 1-0 win over OFI in the Greek Super League last weekend, marking an emotional victory dedicated to the late George Baldock. This triumph moved them to sixth in the table, just five points behind joint-leaders Aris Thessaloniki and PAOK.
However, the Greens have struggled against English teams, winning only one of their last 18 encounters, with their last match against an English club resulting in a 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the 2012-13 Europa League group stage.
Team News
Panathinaikos will miss captain Fotis Ioannidis due to an adductor injury. Several players, including Dimitris Limnios and Zeca, are ineligible for the match.
Andraz Sporar is doubtful due to illness, which could see Alexander Jeremejeff lead the attack, supported by Facundo Pellistri, Anastasios Bakasetas, and Filip Duricic. Bartlomiej Dragowski will likely start in goal.
For Chelsea, Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana are excluded from the squad. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is a doubt with a head injury. Captain Reece James may be rested after his recent return from injury, potentially allowing either Axel Disasi or Malo Gusto to start at right-back.
Players like Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku, who scored against Gent, could return to the lineup alongside Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Panathinaikos possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Kotsiras, Jedvaj, Ingason, Mladenovic; Maksimovic, Cerin; Pellistri, Bakasetas, Duricic; Jeremejeff
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku
Despite potential squad rotations, Chelsea is seen as the favourite to win this matchup. However, Panathinaikos will not be an easy opponent, and the Premier League side must be cautious in their approach.
