Chelsea are set to travel to Greece to take on Panathinaikos in the Conference League on Thursday evening, with the Blues aiming to secure their second consecutive victory in the competition. The match will take place at Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis.
In their opening fixture of the league phase, Chelsea emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over Gent at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos played out a 1-1 draw with Borac Banja Luka from Bosnia.
Despite the draw in their last game, Panathinaikos head coach Enzo Maresca expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, calling it “one of the best of the season.” He believes that his players are moving in the “right direction.”
Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League, Chelsea are only three points behind the top four. They will soon face Newcastle United and Manchester United in upcoming fixtures, but for now, their focus is on the Conference League clash against Panathinaikos.
Chelsea have a strong record against Greek teams in European competitions, having never lost to them. They have won four times and drawn twice, with the two draws both taking place in Greece – against Olympiacos in the 2007-08 Champions League and Aris Thessaloniki in the 1970-71 Cup Winners’ Cup.
Panathinaikos recently ended a three-game winless streak by defeating OFI 1-0 in the Greek Super League. The victory came after the tragic passing of George Baldock at just 31 years old earlier this month.
As for team news, Panathinaikos will have the home advantage for Thursday’s match. They have only lost five of their 23 designated home games in 2024 and are currently on a four-game unbeaten streak at Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis. Their most recent home game ended in a 0-0 draw with Olympiacos.
However, Panathinaikos’ record against English teams is less impressive, with just one win in their last 18 meetings in European competitions. They have drawn six and lost 11 matches against English opponents. Tottenham Hotspur was the last English club they faced, losing 3-1 away in the 2012-13 Europa League group stage.
Overall, Chelsea will be looking to continue their winning streak in the Conference League, while Panathinaikos will aim to secure a positive result in front of their home fans.