4 targets, three factors, and the Blues transferring high of the Convention League league stage desk. It was definitely a great evening’s work for Enzo Maresca’s aspect in Athens.
Panathinaikos have been the opponents on matchday two of our European marketing campaign, however after Joao Felix put us forward halfway by the opening 45 minutes, the competition on the Olympic Stadium was one the Blues by no means regarded like dropping.
That proved the case and three targets in simply ten second-half minutes assured our victory. Mykhailo Mudryk doubled our benefit with a close-range header, Joao Felix grabbed his second with a deflected shot from the sting of the penalty space, and Christopher Nkunku netted one other nerveless spot-kick.
The hosts did seize a comfort purpose with 21 minutes to play when Facundo Pellistri netted from shut vary. But it proved nothing greater than a minor frustration because the Chelsea supporters left the stadium in positive voice forward of their return to London.
Remembering George
Earlier than the motion started on the Olympic Stadium, there was a touching tribute to George Baldock, the Panathinaikos participant who sadly handed away earlier this month.
A stadium-wide show was produced by supporters pre-match whereas, in a present of unity, the Blues’ beginning XI got here collectively to honour Baldock with a Chelsea shirt emblazoned together with his identify and squad quantity that will probably be gifted to our hosts.
It was then onto the soccer – for which Maresca made eleven modifications to his aspect. Filip Jorgensen started in purpose; Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Renato Veiga made up the backline; Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor have been in midfield; Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk and Nkunku began in assault.
The opening probability was long-established inside two minutes – and it proved an necessary second within the contest. A free-kick to the again submit by Filip Mladenovic enabled Tin Jedvaj to energy a header towards purpose. It wanted a save and Jorgensen reacted excellently to push the ball excessive and large.
It was a positive cease and ensured the highly-charged ambiance contained in the stadium did not shift up a notch. In consequence, the Blues settled and Maresca’s tactical set-up turned clear.
Out of possession, Disasi was our right-back, Badiashile and Veiga the centre-backs, and Cucurella the left-back. But with the ball, the backline morphed into a 3 and Cucurella moved into midfield alongside Fernandez and Dewsbury-Corridor.
Impasse damaged
It was an method that enabled the Blues to slowly take management of the sport and, halfway by the opening interval, we opened the scoring.
Having gained possession in midfield, Dewsbury-Corridor arrowed a 30-yard move towards Felix, who gained his header and flicked the ball to Mudryk. The Ukrainian moved into the Panathinaikos field and picked the proper second to slip a move again to Felix. The Portuguese was in a position to expertly end from shut vary.
It was a second for the travelling Chelsea supporters to make themselves heard over the fixed noise from the house followers – one other nearly adopted once we got here near doubling our lead. Mudryk was once more concerned as he rolled a move alongside the 18-yard line to Fernandez, whose fierce drive was pushed over by Bartlomiej Dragowski.
Maresca’s aspect continued to handle the sport well, and the hosts have been unable to check Jorgensen additional earlier than the interval. In the meantime, the one different alternative of observe for the Blues got here from Felix however his drive from distance failed to bother Dragowski.
Taking management
The problem that confronted Maresca’s aspect after the break was to keep up, after which enhance, the extent of efficiency. We did that – and in some type.
Our second purpose arrived three minutes after the break. It was long-established by Neto, who exchanged passes with Dewsbury-Corridor after which clipped an inviting cross to the again submit. Mudryk had drove into the field off the left flank and confirmed power to beat the defender to move house.
Two shortly turned three, with Mudryk and Felix concerned as soon as once more. The Ukraine worldwide collected a clearance and performed a move to Felix on the sting of the Panathinaikos penalty space. His shot at purpose was heading in the right direction but it surely was a deflection that ensured it beat Dragowski.
Then got here purpose quantity 4 through the penalty spot. Felix gained the spot-kick as his tried move struck the arm of Jedvaj, Nkunku assumed duty and proved dependable as soon as extra from 12 yards as he coolly fired into the nook.
With a four-goal lead established, Maresca turned to his bench. Marc Guiu was launched for Nkunku and Tyrique George got here on for Neto.
Nonetheless, Chelsea pushed ahead and complicated footwork inside the world from Disasi enabled the French defender to drill a shot towards the close to submit. On this event, Dragowski was in a position to beat the ball large.
The house aspect had long-established little after the interval however pulled a purpose again within the 69th minute when substitute Georgios Vagiannidis broke ahead and whipped the ball throughout the Chelsea field for Pellistri to transform from six yards.
Additional Chelsea modifications got here within the type of Cesare Casadei, who changed Enzo Fernandez, and later Carney Chukwuemeka, launched for Dewsbury-Corridor.
They helped the Blues handle the sport to a conclusion, though there was one probability for Felix to finish his hat-trick after an exquisite cross from George. The Portugal worldwide, sadly, guided his volley over the crossbar and Chelsea needed to accept 4.
What it means
After our opening two Convention League matches, the Blues sit high of the league stage desk, with six factors from a potential six and a purpose distinction of plus-five.
What comes subsequent
A flight again to London and work then begins forward of our Premier League conflict with Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The groups
Panathinaikos: Dragowski; Kotsiras, Schenkeveld, Jedvaj, Mladenovic (Vagiannidis, 60); Cerin, Maksimovic; Mancini (Tete, 60), Ounahi (Bakasetas, 80), Pellistri (Duricic, 70); Jeremejeff (Sporar, 70)
Unused substitutes: Lodygin, Lilo, Ingason, Fikaj, Bregou, Willian Arao, Ntampizas
Goalscorers: Pellistri 69
Booked: Mladenovic 58
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Cucurella, Disasi, Badiashile, Veiga; Enzo (Casadei 71), Dewsbury-Corridor (Chukwuemeka, 77); Neto (George 62), Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku (Guiu 62)
Unused substitutes: Sanchez, Bergstrom, Tosin, Rak-Sakyi, Madueke, Sancho, Mheuka
Goalscorers: Joao Felix 22, 55, Mudryk 49, Nkunku 59
Booked: Disasi 90+2