Matchday two of the UEFA Conference League sees Panathinaikos face their toughest test yet as they host English giants Chelsea, one of the tournament favourites.
The Greek side will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing goalless draw against Borac Banja Luka in their opener, knowing that another slip-up could jeopardise their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.
Diego Alonso’s men will rely on their strong home form, where they remain unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions (W3, D1).
However, they’ll need to overcome a daunting record against English opposition, having won just one of their 18 encounters against teams from England (D6, L11).
This will be their first-ever meeting with Chelsea, adding further intrigue to the contest.
Chelsea arrive in Athens off the back of a frustrating 2-1 loss to Liverpool in the Premier League, marking their third defeat of the season.
Despite the result, head coach Enzo Maresca remained optimistic, praising his team’s performance.
Still, the Blues are winless in their last two outings (D1, L1) and will be eager to get back on track.
Confidence should remain high for Chelsea, given their unbeaten record against Greek teams (W4, D2), although it’s worth noting that both draws came on Greek soil.
Despite their recent form, Chelsea’s quality and depth make them formidable opponents in this competition.
The emotional atmosphere surrounding the match will be heightened as the Blues join Panathinaikos in paying tribute to English-born defender George Baldock, who tragically passed away just days after his last Conference League appearance.
Key Battle:
New Panathinaikos signing Facundo Pellistri, who scored his only goal for the club in a home Conference League qualifier against Lens, will be looking to make an impact.
He’ll be up against Chelsea’s versatile Left-back Renato Veiga, who was pivotal in their matchday one win against Gent with both a goal and an assist, and recently earned his first senior cap for Portugal.
Potential Lineups:
Panathinaikos: 4-2-3-1 : Dragowski; Kotsiras, Jedvaj, Ingason, Mladenovic; Arao, Gnezda cerin; Tete, Bakasetas, Pellistri; Jeremejeff.
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 : Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Drewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
Score Prediction:Panathinaikos 1-4 Chelsea
Where to watch:
United Kingdom: TNT Sports 1, Discovery+
United States: Paramount+, TUDN.
Canada: Apple TV (CA), DAZN
India: Sony Sports Network, Sony Liv.
Australia: Stan Sport
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Conclusion :
Chelsea’s European pedigree and attacking prowess should see them through, but Panathinaikos’ home form and determination could make it a closer contest than expected.
