Chelsea predicted lineup vs Panathinaikos - Conference League
- Chelsea travel to Athens and face Panathinaikos in the Conference League on Thursday evening
- Enzo Maresca expected to make wholesale changes to starting XI from Sunday's defeat at Liverpool
- Enzo Fernandez could earn a start in midfield
It's time for the Chelsea B team to shine on Thursday evening as the Blues take on Panathinaikos in the Conference League.
The depth of Enzo Maresca's squad will allow the Italian to make wholesale changes from his Premier League XI without sacrificing too much quality in midweek. Their league phase campaign kicked off with a routine 4-2 victory over Gent on Matchday 1, but a trip to Athens represents a much trickier test.
The reserve side were beaten 2-1 by Servette away from home in the play-offs. Maresca's success with this team so far has come at Stamford Bridge.
Expect wholesale changes from the side that was beaten 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday. Here's the lineup Maresca could select against Panathinaikos.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Panathinaikos (4-2-3-1)
GK: Filip Jorgensen - Doubts linger over Jorgensen, who's trying to manage a head injury, but there's hope the summer arrival will be okay to continue in the Conference League XI.
RB: Axel Disasi - Reece James' minutes will be managed and Malo Gusto could be preserved for Sunday. Thus, Disasi, who recorded an assist against Gent, will continue at right-back.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo - Tosin has never garnered as much attention from Arsenal fans as he did at the weekend. The Chelsea defender was included in the Premier League XI in Wesley Fofana's absence and many Gooners believed he should've received his marching orders for committing a foul apparently identical to William Saliba's which earned the Frenchman a red card at Bournemouth on Saturday.
CB: Benoit Badiashile - Badiashile has made sporadic cameo appearances in the Premier League, as was the case at Anfield. However, he's not going to usurp Levi Colwill in the depth chart anytime soon.
LB: Renato Veiga - The former Basel defender was the star of Chelsea's win over Gent, with Maresca utilising Veiga in an enterprising midfield position when the Blues had the ball. He's one to keep an eye out for on Thursday.
CM: Enzo Fernandez - There was no room for Fernandez in the team at Liverpool, and both Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo impressed. This could be a good opportunity to return the Argentine to the XI, where he should perform at the base of midfield.
CM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - With minutes hard to come by in the Premier League, Dewsbury-Hall is going to have to settle for starts in this competition. He impressed on Matchday 1.
RM: Pedro Neto - Neto will be in the Premier League XI in no time if Sancho continues to perform as he did at Anfield. The Portuguese international offered directness and explosiveness off the bench on Sunday.
AM: Joao Felix - Remember this guy? The style over substance fiend certainly doesn't lack aesthetics, but he's avoiding any sort of output like the plague.
LM: Mykhaylo Mudryk - Like several in this team, Mudryk is struggling to earn Premier League opportunities, so these games are significant. The Ukrainian offered a burst and some moments of brightness on Matchday 1.
ST: Christopher Nkunku - The Frenchman is bound to score a hatful in this competition, and he got off the mark at the first attempt against Gent despite not really being in the game.
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