Enzo Maresca want to give 27-year-old ace chance to convince him in Chelsea vs Panathinaikos predicted XI
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Maresca’s Squad Set for Conference League Clash
Enzo Maresca will get another opportunity to assess his squad when Chelsea heads into their upcoming Conference League match on Thursday. The Blues will face Panathinaikos away, aiming to maintain their perfect record in the competition so far.
The Fight for First-Team Places Continues
Despite some impressive performances against Gent, no player has yet cemented a spot in Maresca’s preferred Premier League starting lineup. Thursday provides another chance for players to stake their claim. Here’s The Chelsea Chronicle’s predicted lineup for the upcoming match.
Predicted Chelsea XI vs Panathinaikos
Goalkeeper:
After Robert Sanchez’s subpar showing against Liverpool, Filip Jorgensen is likely to step in between the posts for the Conference League clash. Jorgensen’s inclusion will depend on whether he’s recovered from an unfortunate injury during international duty.
Defense:
Axel Disasi is expected to start at right-back again, filling in for Josh Acheampong, who has been sidelined from first-team duties. Tosin Adarabioyo will keep his place in the center-back pairing, with Wesley Fofana unavailable for the competition’s group stages.
He’ll likely be joined by Benoit Badiashile, who caught the eye with a solid performance off the bench at Anfield. Left-back duties will likely fall to Renato Veiga, who has been a regular in all the cup games so far.
Midfield:
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, one of Maresca’s go-to players, will look to continue his strong European form in the midfield. Enzo Fernandez, who will captain the team, returns to the lineup after being benched for Romeo Lavia in the recent loss to Liverpool.
Attack:
Pedro Neto, who has been pushing for a Premier League start, will likely feature on the right flank. On the left, Mykhailo Mudryk will be eager to seize this opportunity and prove himself to Maresca, who has been critical of his performances this season.
Joao Felix, who remained unused in the Liverpool match, is expected to start against the Greek side, giving him a chance to impress.
Striker:
Christopher Nkunku will spearhead the attack, hoping to keep the pressure on Nicolas Jackson with another strong showing.
Full Predicted XI:
Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Fernandez, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
This lineup is a blend of regulars and fringe players looking to make their mark, and it’s sure to be an exciting match as Chelsea aim to extend their unbeaten run in the Conference League.
