Match report: Panathinaikos 1-4 Chelsea

Four goals, three points, and the Blues moving top of the Conference League league stage table. It was certainly a good night's work for Enzo Maresca's side in Athens.

Panathinaikos were the opponents on matchday two of our European campaign, but after Joao Felix put us ahead midway through the opening 45 minutes, the contest at the Olympic Stadium was one the Blues never looked like losing.

That proved the case and three goals in just ten second-half minutes guaranteed our victory. Mykhailo Mudryk doubled our advantage with a close-range header, Joao Felix grabbed his second with a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area, and Christopher Nkunku netted another nerveless spot-kick.

The hosts did grab a consolation goal with 21 minutes to play when Facundo Pellistri netted from close range. Yet it proved nothing more than a minor frustration as the Chelsea supporters left the stadium in fine voice ahead of their return to London.

Remembering George

Before the action began at the Olympic Stadium, there was a touching tribute to George Baldock, the Panathinaikos player who sadly passed away earlier this month.

A stadium-wide display was produced by supporters pre-match while, in a show of unity, the Blues' starting XI came together to honour Baldock with a Chelsea shirt emblazoned with his name and squad number that will be gifted to our hosts.

It was then onto the football – for which Maresca made eleven changes to his side. Filip Jorgensen began in goal; Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Renato Veiga made up the backline; Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were in midfield; Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk and Nkunku started in attack.

The opening chance was fashioned inside two minutes – and it proved an important moment in the contest. A free-kick to the back post by Filip Mladenovic enabled Tin Jedvaj to power a header toward goal. It needed a save and Jorgensen reacted excellently to push the ball high and wide.

It was a fine stop and ensured the highly-charged atmosphere inside the stadium didn't shift up a notch. As a result, the Blues settled and Maresca's tactical set-up became clear.

Out of possession, Disasi was our right-back, Badiashile and Veiga the centre-backs, and Cucurella the left-back. Yet with the ball, the backline morphed into a three and Cucurella moved into midfield alongside Fernandez and Dewsbury-Hall.

Deadlock broken

It was an approach that enabled the Blues to slowly take control of the game and, midway through the opening period, we opened the scoring.

Having won possession in midfield, Dewsbury-Hall arrowed a 30-yard pass toward Felix, who won his header and flicked the ball to Mudryk. The Ukrainian moved into the Panathinaikos box and picked the perfect moment to slide a pass back to Felix. The Portuguese was able to expertly finish from close range.

It was a moment for the travelling Chelsea supporters to make themselves heard over the constant noise from the home fans – another almost followed when we came close to doubling our lead. Mudryk was again involved as he rolled a pass along the 18-yard line to Fernandez, whose fierce drive was pushed over by Bartlomiej Dragowski.

Maresca's side continued to manage the game smartly, and the hosts were unable to test Jorgensen further before the interval. Meanwhile, the only other opportunity of note for the Blues came from Felix but his drive from distance failed to trouble Dragowski.

Taking control

The challenge that faced Maresca's side after the break was to maintain, and then improve, the level of performance. We did that – and in some style.

Our second goal arrived three minutes after the break. It was fashioned by Neto, who exchanged passes with Dewsbury-Hall and then clipped an inviting cross to the back post. Mudryk had drove into the box off the left flank and showed strength to beat the defender to head home.

Two quickly became three, with Mudryk and Felix involved once again. The Ukraine international collected a clearance and played a pass to Felix on the edge of the Panathinaikos penalty area. His shot at goal was on target but it was a deflection that ensured it beat Dragowski.

Then came goal number four via the penalty spot. Felix won the spot-kick as his attempted pass struck the arm of Jedvaj, Nkunku assumed responsibility and proved reliable once more from 12 yards as he coolly fired into the corner.

With a four-goal lead established, Maresca turned to his bench. Marc Guiu was introduced for Nkunku and Tyrique George came on for Neto.

Still, Chelsea pushed forward and intricate footwork inside the area from Disasi enabled the French defender to drill a shot toward the near post. On this occasion, Dragowski was able to beat the ball wide.

The home side had fashioned little after the interval but pulled a goal back in the 69th minute when substitute Georgios Vagiannidis broke forward and whipped the ball across the Chelsea box for Pellistri to convert from six yards.

Further Chelsea changes came in the form of Cesare Casadei, who replaced Enzo Fernandez, and later Carney Chukwuemeka, introduced for Dewsbury-Hall.

They helped the Blues manage the game to a conclusion, although there was one chance for Felix to complete his hat-trick after a wonderful cross from George. The Portugal international, unfortunately, guided his volley over the crossbar and Chelsea had to settle for four.

What it means

After our opening two Conference League matches, the Blues sit top of the league stage table, with six points from a possible six and a goal difference of plus-five.

What comes next

A flight back to London and work then begins ahead of our Premier League clash with Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The teams

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