Two minutes into the second half at Athens Olympic Stadium, a significant gap appeared in Chelsea’s defense, allowing Panathinaikos winger Facundo Pellistri to surge towards goal. The moment, while promising, quickly lost its tension as Chelsea’s Benoit Badiashile and Renato Veiga recovered to disrupt Pellistri’s run, resulting in him losing possession.
Moments later, Chelsea advanced the ball easily to the right flank, where Pedro Neto delivered a cross to Mykhailo Mudryk, who scored with a header into an open net, doubling Chelsea’s lead and effectively sealing the match with over 40 minutes remaining.
Describing Chelsea’s performance as a mere victory would be an understatement. Joao Felix showcased exceptional control, Mudryk enjoyed his best match yet for the club, and Christopher Nkunku maintained an impressive goals-per-minute ratio, scoring a calm penalty without breaking a sweat. The most active individual at the stadium was likely a Panathinaikos fan, who persistently aimed a green laser pointer at the Chelsea players despite multiple warnings from the announcer.
Panathinaikos’ lackluster performance can partly be attributed to the absence of several key players and the emotional impact of George Baldock’s tragic death, which led to heartfelt tributes from fans and players alike. However, it feels evident that there were additional issues at play.
According to Transfermarkt, Panathinaikos holds the fourth highest squad market value in UEFA’s third-tier competition at €107.5 million. Chelsea, on the other hand, has a squad value that far exceeds that, hinting at why matches against them seem so lopsided.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca made eleven changes from the team that faced Liverpool recently. Notable absences included Reece James and Moises Caicedo, yet the starting lineup against Panathinaikos was still assembled at a cost exceeding £500 million.
The presence of Chelsea in this tournament raises eyebrows, as Maresca defended their participation, stating that being in the Conference League is where they currently belong. He emphasized that merits in football will ultimately determine their future.
Chelsea’s presence in the Europa Conference League stems from circumstances resulting in their previous season’s performance, making their dominance feel even more pronounced given their financial prowess compared to other teams in the competition.
Although clubs like Fiorentina and Real Betis represent strong competition from top European leagues, Chelsea remains the overwhelming favorite. The primary risk for them, despite their clear superiority, lies in potential complacency.
Competing as frontrunners can bring added pressure but also opportunities for rotation. This allows Maresca to maintain fitness for his key players while evaluating promising talents from Chelsea’s academy.
Players on the fringe, such as Renato Veiga, are taking advantage of these opportunities to showcase their versatility. Maresca praised Veiga’s ability to adapt to various positions, highlighting the importance of players being capable of filling multiple roles.
As the knockout rounds approach, Maresca will face tough choices regarding squad selection, especially with players like Palmer, Lavia, and Fofana potentially available, but Chelsea’s current strength should see them through in pursuit of the trophy, placing them firmly as the class of the competition.