Frank Christian
Chelsea aims to bounce back in the UEFA Conference League against Panathinaikos following a recent loss to Liverpool.
Under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea faced a narrow 2-1 defeat against the Premier League leaders at Anfield on Sunday, showcasing their development under the Italian coach.
This European competition provides a clear pathway for Maresca to secure silverware this season, with Chelsea having kicked off their campaign with a 4-2 triumph over Gent at Stamford Bridge.
Tonight’s match at the Athens Olympic Stadium carries special significance, as Panathinaikos plays its first home game after the unfortunate passing of defender George Baldock.
Confirmed Lineups for Panathinaikos vs. Chelsea
Panathinaikos will miss captain Fotis Ioannidis due to an adductor injury, and forward Andraz Sporar is also sidelined with illness but is on the bench. Alexander Jeremejeff will take the lead in their attack.
In the forward line, former Manchester United player Facundo Pellistri and promising Morocco international Azzedine Ounahi both start.
Dimitris Limnios, Tonny Vilhena, and Zeca will not participate as they are excluded from Panathinaikos’ Conference League roster.
Projected XI for Panathinaikos (4-2-3-1): Dragowski (GK) — Kotsiras, Schenkeveld, Jedvaj, Mladenovic — Cerin, Maksimovic — Mancini, Ounahi, Pellistri — Jeremejeff
Substitutes for Panathinaikos: Lodygin, Lilo, Vagiannidis, Sporar, Tete, Bakasetas, Ingason, Fikaj, Bregou, Duricic, Willian Arao, Ntampizas
Injury Updates: Ioannidis
Suspensions: None
Maresca addresses no new injuries from the recent match. Club captain Reece James played for an hour at Anfield without complications, but will rest in Athens to continue recovery.
Chelsea has opted for squad rotation as seen in their previous three European matches this season. Notable absences from the Chelsea squad include Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana, who are excluded from the league phase registration. Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile will form the center-back pair, with Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in midfield.
In attacking roles, Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk are both given opportunities to shine. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, recovering from a head injury, is expected to start after passing a late fitness test.
Chelsea’s Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen (GK) — Cucurella, Disasi, Badiashile, Veiga — Fernandez, Dewsbury-Hall — Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk — Nkunku
Chelsea Substitutes: Sanchez, Bergstrom, Adarabioyo, Casadei, Chukwuemeka, Rak-Sakyi, Madueke, Sancho, George, Guiu, Mheuka
Injuries: None
Suspensions: N/A
Watch Panathinaikos vs. Chelsea Live
Find out how to watch this UEFA Conference League match across various regions:
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming Options |
| USA | N/A | Paramount+, ViX |
| Canada | N/A | DAZN |
| UK | TNT Sports 1 | Discovery+ |
| Australia | N/A | Stan Sport |
| India | Sony Ten 5 | Sony LIV, JoiTV |
