Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Astana
Match Time & Date:
12/12/2024
16:30
Prediction: 1-2
Chelsea
Chelsea will be aiming to keep their 100% record in the new Conference League campaign intact when they face Astana on Thursday afternoon. The Blues have been producing excellent displays under Enzo Maresca and even though the Italian tactician is going to stick to his rotation policy, away win should be considered. The likes of Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, and Joao Felix are all pushing for a start, while Cesare Casadei misses out through suspension. Star player Cole Palmer is ineligible for the Conference League game.
The Kazakhs, on the other hand, are tough to beat at home, with the team sharing the spoils with Vitoria Guimaraes in their last Conference League game, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against the star-studded Premier League outfit. Even though there are no fresh injury worries in the home team, anything but a routine away win would be a big surprise.
Highlighted Team (Chelsea):
Over the years Chelsea have established themselves as one of the dominant forces in the English Premier League. Roberto Di Matteo helped the team win their first ever Champions League trophy (2011/2012), but it has to be noted that they were more than fortunate to beat Bayern Munich in the title game.
Chelsea have been playing at Stamford Bridge since 1876 and they are a real force to be reckoned with at home. The Blues have won seven FA Cups, five League Cups, two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups and the UEFA Europa League. Rafael Benitez was in charge of the team that faced Benfica in the 2012/2013 Europa League final, with Branislav Ivanovic scoring the winner for the Blues in the title clash.
After lifting the 2014/2015 Premier League trophy, the Blues largely struggled in the next campaign, which saw Jose Mourinho’s second spell with the club come to an end, and Antoine Conte went over to take the reigns for the 2016/2017 season.
Plzen 
Manchester United 
Ajax
Lazio
Lyon
Frankfurt
Porto
Midtjylland 
Rangers
Tottenham
Real Sociedad
Dynamo Kyiv
