Panathinaikos vs Chelsea Preview

• Chelsea to win
• Chelsea to keep clean sheet

Panathinaikos’ Toughest Test Yet

Panathinaikos face a stern challenge on matchday two of the UEFA Conference League as they welcome English giants and tournament favourites Chelsea.

Following a frustrating goalless draw against Borac Banja Luka in their opening fixture, Panathinaikos find themselves in a position where another negative result could jeopardise their progression hopes.

Head Coach Diego Alonso will look to make the most of home advantage, with Panathinaikos enjoying a four-match unbeaten run across all competitions at home (W3, D1). However, they’ll need to shake off a poor historical record against English teams, having won just one of their previous 18 matches against English opposition (D6, L11).

Chelsea Looking for a Response

Chelsea come into this fixture after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in Premier League action, their third competitive loss of the season.

Despite the result, Head Coach Enzo Maresca expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. However, the defeat stretched Chelsea’s winless streak to two matches (D1, L1), and they’ll be eager to respond quickly to avoid further dips in form.

The Blues will be confident of getting back on track, as they remain unbeaten in European competition against Greek opposition (W4, D2). Yet, it’s worth noting that both of their failures to win came on Greek soil, so Chelsea will need to remain focused if they want to avoid another slip-up.

The match will also be a poignant occasion, as Chelsea will join Panathinaikos in honouring English-born Panathinaikos defender George Baldock, who passed away suddenly after playing in their last Conference League game.

Players to Watch

Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos)

The former Manchester United winger is looking to make a bigger impact since arriving at Panathinaikos, and he’ll hope to replicate his performance from August, when he scored in a home Conference League qualifier against Lens. Pellistri will be key in creating offensive opportunities against a strong Chelsea side.

Renato Veiga (Chelsea)

Chelsea’s wing-back Renato Veiga has been impressive in Europe, having scored and assisted in their opening Conference League win over Gent. He recently made his senior international debut for Portugal, and his dynamism down the flank could cause problems for Panathinaikos.

Předpověď

Panathinaikos will look to capitalise on home advantage and improve their record against English teams, but Chelsea’s strength and European pedigree make them firm favourites for this clash.

With both sides eager for a positive result, expect a competitive match, but Chelsea’s firepower may prove too much for Panathinaikos to handle.

For more info on this game, you may also visit:

Panathinaikos vs Chelsea | UEFA Conference League 2024/25