This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their Europa Conference League clash with Greek side Panathinaikos as the Blues look to continue their strong start to the league phase. Enzo Maresca’s side are coming in off the back of a loss to Liverpool so everyone will be looking to put that behind them and get a statement win here.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Panathinaikos for Conference League Tie
How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently
With suspensions and returns, there’s been a surprise or two in recent lineups from Maresca. Robert Sanchez has been the number one option in between the sticks, Filip Jorgensen came in as his replacement against Gent in the league phase opener. Reece James made his first start of the season alongside Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, and Malo Gusto as a makeshift backfour. Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, and Renato Veiga have also featured in the league.
Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have also been given minutes in the defense but usually in the lesser competitions. There was another return in midfield as Romeo Lavia started against the Reds joining Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez as the first choice for the deeper midfield spots. Cesare Casadei has been trialled in the deepest position in this competition and the cups while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall tends to play the Fernandez role.
The attacking lineup is loaded with talent as Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Joao Felix, Jadon Sancho, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicholas Jackson all trade the front four spots.
Chelsea Recent Form and Tactics
The manager has stuck to his fluid 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation but against Barrow and Gent there was a more attacking variant that resembled a 3-2-4-1 which camps more players around the box and inverts the full-back without much worry about getting back.
Results were good for the Blues as they went on a run of seven matches without a defeat with goals coming with relative ease for a team that once struggled to break opposition defenses down. The one problem is their defensive issues have reared their head again with no clean sheets kept in the last four attempts.
Chelsea Absences to Consider
Only a select group travelled to Greece for this clash meaning there are some guaranteed ejections from the starting eleven. Notable in their absence are Colwill, Caicedo, Jackson, James, and Gusto who stayed home with Fofana, Palmer, and Lavia who are all unregistered for the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Panathinaikos
Maresca might tinker with his tried and true formula to distribute minutes to Cucurella and Fernandez to keep them sharp, Tosin playing at the weekend also adds some doubt as he may not be able to play twice in the span of four days.
GK – Filip Jorgensen
LB – Renato Veiga
CB – Benoit Badiashile
CB – Axel Disasi
RB – Marc Cucurella
DM – Cesare Casadei
CM/DM – Enzo Fernandez
CM/AM – Joao Felix
LW – Mykhailo Mudryk
ST – Christopher Nkunku
RW – Pedro Neto
