Chelsea is gearing up for an exciting clash in the Europa Conference League tonight as they take on Panathinaikos in Athens. The Blues will face off against the Greek side in their stunning home stadium, and all eyes will be on how the team performs away from Stamford Bridge.
Manager Enzo Maresca arrived in Greece with his squad yesterday afternoon and addressed the media about the upcoming match. With an eye on player fatigue and the toll of travel, he made the strategic decision to leave several key players behind. However, the squad still boasts a mix of familiar faces and promising academy talents.
Anticipating the Starting XI
Maresca provided some clarity on the lineup, particularly regarding goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who was a concern after suffering a suspected concussion during his time with Denmark’s U21s. Fortunately, the coach confirmed, “Yes, he is here and he is going to play.” This assurance puts Jorgensen back in the starting role for tonight’s match.
Based on recent formations and the available squad, it’s likely that the starting XI will look like this:
Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Fernandez, Dewsbury-Hall, Felix; Neto, Mudryk, Nkunku.
This lineup represents the ‘second string’ that Maresca has typically deployed in the Europa Conference League matches. The inclusion of Enzo Fernandez, who didn’t start against Liverpool, suggests he’s being integrated more prominently into the squad. With all right-backs left back in London, Axel Disasi is expected to take up the right-back position, though some might speculate about a potential role for Marc Cucurella.
With this intriguing mix of players and the strategy in place, Chelsea fans will be eager to see how the team performs in Greece and if they can secure a vital victory in their European campaign.
