rewrite this title Astana vs Chelsea: Preview, predictions and lineups

Chelsea make the long journey to Kazakhstan on Thursday when they face Astana in the Conference League.

The Blues will make significant changes to their starting lineup midweek as they travel over 6,000km and are aiming to maintain their perfect record in the league phase of the Conference League. Four matches have produced four victories and 18 goals as Enzo Maresca’s side make a mockery of Europe’s third most prestigious cup competition.

Confidence is high for Chelsea ahead of Thursday’s encounter. They have won all five of their outings since the November international break and reduced the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points at the weekend as they toppled Tottenham Hotspur. A 4-3 comeback victory was inspired by Cole Palmer, who will secure a well-earned rest midweek.

Astana are currently playing their home matches in Almaty – 1,200km away from the Kazakh capital – and have managed just four points from their opening matches. Without victory in three European fixtures, they should cause Chelsea few problems on Thursday.

Here is 90min’s guide to Astana vs Chelsea.

Astana vs Chelsea H2H Record

This is the first competitive fixture between Astana and Chelsea.

Current form (all competitions)

The 2024 Kazakhstan Premier League season finished in early November as Astana only managed second, meaning Grigori Babayan’s side will either be well-rested or rusty for the visit of Chelsea on Thursday.

Astana have struggled for goals in the Conference League and are unlikely to trouble Chelsea too much. However, Nigerian striker Geoffrey Chinedu is one to watch out for on Thursday, with the 27-year-old having scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for the club since joining in the summer.

Astana predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Condric; Bartolec, Kazukolovas, Kalaica, Vorogovsky; Amanovic, Ebong; Tomasov, Gripshi, Camara; Chinedu.

Maresca will take an array of young academy players to Kazakhstan on Thursday, perhaps leaving some bigger names behind. A flurry of talent has been added to Chelsea’s Conference League squad on the UEFA website, including Richard Olise, brother of Bayern Munich star Michael.

In terms of injuries, Chelsea are without Reece James and Wesley Fofana through hamstring issues – the latter isn’t included in the Conference League squad anyway. Mykhailo Mudryk has also been struggling with illness in recent matches and could miss out.

Midfielder Cesare Casadei, who could have been useful for such a fixture, is unavailable through suspension after being sent off in the 2-0 win over Heidenheim.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Astana (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Olise, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Veiga; Rak-Sakyi, Dewsbury-Hall; George, Chukwuemeka, Felix; Guiu.

Even a much-changed and youthful Chelsea XI should have little trouble beating Astana comfortably, especially given there are likely to be a number of senior players involved. The Kazakhstani side haven’t turned out in two weeks and will be praying that their opponents’ jet lag offers them a glimmer of hope for one of the biggest fixtures in their history.

However, Chelsea have eased past some of Europe’s smaller sides during their Conference League run thus far and are likely to earn a fifth straight win in the league phase with very little fuss.

Prediction: Astana 0-3 Chelsea

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