Chelsea proceed very best get started in Convention League with giant win at Panathinaikos

Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk starred as a second-string Chelsea beat Panathinaikos 4-1 in Athens to proceed their successful begin to the UEFA Convention League.

Portugal global Felix opened the scoring for the Blues halfway throughout the opening duration as he tapped house Mudryk’s squared ball from shut vary.

It used to be the Ukraine global who doubled the guests’ merit 4 mins into the second one duration earlier than turning supplier as soon as once more as he teed up Felix, whose deflected strike made it 3.

The previous Atletico Madrid guy then received a penalty that Christopher Nkunku flippantly transformed to take the sport clear of the hosts, who scored a comfort by the use of Facundo Pellistri’s tap-in.

It used to be an emotional night time for the Greek aspect as they paid tribute to George Baldock of their first house recreation since his tragic dying.

They continue to be on one level after their draw on Matchday 1, whilst Enzo Maresca’s males make it two wins from two following their 4-2 conquer Gent at Stamford Bridge to kick off their marketing campaign.

Panathinaikos’ easiest likelihood of the fit earlier than their target halfway thru the second one duration got here within the opening mins of the sport as defender Tin Jedvaj used to be left in acres on the again publish from a free-kick however noticed his header well-saved through Filip Jorgensen.

Regardless of Chelsea’s dominance within the first part, they struggled to create anything else simple each side of Felix’s target, which got here after the 24-year-old received a flick on from an extended ball to search out Mudryk earlier than making the field to complete off the transfer.

The Blues had a a ways higher leading edge following the period and temporarily produced every other tidy transfer as Pedro Neto labored a one-two with Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor earlier than discovering the top of Mudryk on the again publish to make it two.

It used to be a identical transfer that created the 1/3 target: Mudryk arrange Felix at the fringe of the field and the Portuguese used to be the beneficiary of a depraved deflection that noticed the ball divert previous the goalkeeper.

Felix then received the penalty as his flicked cross off the out of doors of his boot within the house struck the arm of Daniel Mancini. Nkunku controlled to care for distraction of a number of lasers in his eyes as he slotted his spot kick into the ground left nook.

Panathinaikos supervisor Diego Alonso didn’t get started a full-strength aspect, but if he started to introduce extra of his first-choice 11 the hosts quickly reaped the rewards.

9 mins after approaching, right-back Georgios Vagiannidis made a very good overlapping run earlier than striking the ball on a plate for Pellistri to faucet house on the again publish.

The house aspect persisted to provide a danger down their correct flank within the ultimate levels and a goal-line clearance from Axel Disasi used to be required to stop the Blues conceding a moment.

Chelsea’s rhythm was rather disrupted as substitutes had been made however their wholesome lead introduced the danger for the likes of 18-year-old Tyrique George to get some precious mins.

Up subsequent for Maresca’s aspect is a house conflict within the Premier League in opposition to Newcastle on Sunday, whilst their subsequent Ecu tie sees them welcome Armenian aspect Noah to Stamford Bridge.

Maresca persisted with the similar method relating to group variety for Europe’s third-tier festival as he made 11 adjustments from the group that began in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at Anfield on Sunday, with a lot of his first-choice line-up no longer travelling to Greece.

This night time’s tie used to be because of this an opportunity for his second-string aspect to stake their declare to be part of the Premier League outfit, and it used to be Felix and Mudryk who did this probably the most successfully with the pair each and every all in favour of 3 of Chelsea’s 4 objectives.

Forward of this night’s conflict, Neto and Nkunku had been arguably the 2 forwards knocking at the door the toughest, however in spite of Neto’s lend a hand for Mudryk and Nkunku changing his penalty, they’d rather quiet evenings compared to their attacking opposite numbers.

There used to be little to choose from Felix and Mudryk however the Ukraine global most certainly produced a rather extra dynamic and influencial efficiency with the exception of his 3 target involvements. His electrical tempo brought about issues for Panathinaikos all over.

Panathinaikos: Dragowski 6; Kotsiras 6, Jedvaj 5, Schenkeveld 6, Mladenovic 6; Gnezda Cerin 6, Maksimovic 6; Pellsitri 7, Ounahi 6, Mancini 5; Jeremejeff 5. Subs: Sporar 5, Djuricic 6, Bakasetas 5, Tete 6, Vagiannidis 7.

Chelsea: Jorgensen 7; Cucurella 7, Disasi 6, Badiashile 6, Veiga 6; Dewsbury-Corridor 7, Fernandes 6; Neto 7, Felix 8, Mudryk 8*; Nkunku 6. Subs: Casadei 6, Chukwuemeka 5, George 6, Guiu 5.

22′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-1 CHELSEA (FELIX): Felix flicks it on along with his head to an onrushing Mudryk at the left. The winger drives into the field earlier than squaring it again to the Portuguese global who faucets house.

49′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-2 CHELSEA (MUDRYK): Neto hangs a pass as much as the again publish the place Mudryk arrives and heads it into the bottom previous Dragowski to double Chelsea’s merit.

55′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-3 CHELSEA (FELIX): Mudryk tees up Felix who seems to be to curve one from the threshold of the realm. His effort takes a depraved deflection and is going within the backside left nook.

59′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-4 CHELSEA (NKUNKU): Nkunku has to care for lasers being shone in his eyes however makes no mistake as he strokes his penalty into the ground left nook, sending the keeper the fallacious approach.

69′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 1-4 CHELSEA (PELLISTRI): Tete slides within the overlapping right-back Vagiannidis into the proper of the field. The defender squares it around the face of the target to Pellistri to faucet house on the again publish.