Chelsea is the heavy favorite to win the Conference League, but Panathinaikos, in a packed OAKA stadium, is aiming for a result that will keep them in contention for qualification. The match will be broadcast on Cosmote Sport 4 and ANT1.
The moment has arrived for Panathinaikos’ first home match in the League Phase of the Conference League. However, the celebration that many anticipated, especially with Chelsea as the opponent, will be somewhat subdued due to the unresolved grief over the loss of George Baldock within the Panathinaikos family.
Considering this is Panathinaikos’ first home game since the tragic events of October 9th, the atmosphere at OAKA will be somber. The team has prepared several tributes in memory of Baldock.
Panathinaikos Starting XI:
Dragowski, Schenkeveld, Jedvaj, Mladenović, Kotsiras, Čerin, Maksimović, Unai, Pellistri, Mancini, Jeremejeff.
Chelsea Starting XI:
Jørgensen, Renato Veiga, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Dewsbury-Hall, Mudryk, João Félix, Nkunku.
As for the match, Panathinaikos faces the challenge of managing a game against the strongest team in the competition, Chelsea. This match also precedes a major derby against Aris on Sunday at OAKA.
This situation prompts coach Diego Alonso to consider making changes, with Arao, Tete, and Bakasetas likely to be on the bench.
Alonso will strengthen the midfield (with Maksimović, Čerin, and Unai as the key candidates), while there’s a chance that Vagiannidis may return to the starting lineup.
“We know it’s a difficult match, but we have the ability to create our chances. We must be strong both defensively and offensively,” commented Diego Alonso ahead of the game. Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who has left Caicedo, Jackson, Colwill, Gusto, and James out of the squad, with Palmer, Chilwell, Fofana, and Lavia not on the European roster, said: “Panathinaikos is a very good team. I’ve watched many of their games. It will certainly be a tough match. Being Italian, I know that the atmosphere in Greek stadiums is quite similar.”
For the Panathinaikos vs. Chelsea match, UEFA’s refereeing committee has appointed 35-year-old Portuguese referee António Nobre (First Category). His assistants will be fellow countrymen Pedro Ribeiro and Nélson Pereira, with Gustavo Correia as the fourth official. In charge of VAR will be André Narciso and Hélder Malheiro.
