CHELSEA are in Kazakhstan to take on Astana in huge Conference League clash on RIGHT NOW in freezing conditions.
The Blues have enjoyed a perfect run in Europe so far as Enzo Maresca’s fringe players look to stake a claim as a first-team regular.
Chelsea beat Heidenheim 2-0 in their last Conference League outing, with Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk firing the Blues to victory in Germany.
Astana will be looking to climb the table as they eye their first win since their European opener back in October.
Conditions at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadium are expected to be extreme, with the temperature potentially dropping well below zero.
- Kick off time: 3.30pm GMT
- TV channel: TNT Sports 2
- Live stream: discovery+
- Astana team: Seisen; Bartolec, Kazukolovas, Kalaica, Vorogovskiy; Marochkin, Amanovic; Ebong, Chinedu, Camara; Tomasov
- Chelsea team: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Tosin, Renato Veiga; Rak-Sakyi, Dewsbury-Hall; George, Chukwuemeka, Pedro Neto; Marc Guiu
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Astana 0-2 Chelsea
35. Every fixture is pitting Chelsea against teams that they have never played before.
Not sure whether that says more about these European competitions or The Blues’ fall from grace over recent years,
Astan a come forward and the ball is laid off to Geoffrey but it is an easy save for Jorgensen at his near post.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
33. Chelsea are trying their luck from all angles now.
Renata Veiga shoots from the edge of the box but the keeper saves.
Astana come forward but lose possession quickly.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
31. Maresca’s side look like scoring whenever they come forward.
This time Guiu uses his strength to get between the defender and the ball.
He tries a shot from a tight angle but smashes it over the target.
Credit: Reuters
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
29. The hardest part of this game for Chelsea will be the temperature.
Since conceding, Astana have offered very little going forward.
This could be like a training match for The Blues, in arctic conditions.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
27. Guiu is down receiving some treatment.
He seemed to get a knock to the knee.
Fortunately for Maresca, he is back to his feet and seemingly able to continue.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
25. This could be a long evening for the hosts.
They will just be grateful that The Blues didn’t bring a first team.
Neto puts a teasing cross into the back post but Renato Veiga cannot make anything of it.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
23. Almost another goal from the visitors.
A shot from the edge of the box is parried by the keeper.
He does well to get to his feet and retrieve the ball before any Chelsea player can react.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
21. It seems they have put that last one down as an own goal.
Looking at the replays it is a tough one to call as to who got the last touch.
Either way, Maresca will be pleased with the start his side have made.
Credit: Reuters Astana 0-2 Chelsea
19. Great play from Pedro Neto in the build-up.
The change of pace out wide left his marker for dead.
As he whipped the ball into the box, Guiu bundled it over the line to double the visitors lead.
Goal – Marc Guiu (Chelsea)
Astana 0-1 Chelsea
17. It was all too easy that goal.
Like watching a football match in the school playground.
Astana have the highest XG in this competition for goals against.
Astana 0-1 Chelsea
15. That was some good play from the Chelsea striker.
He picked the ball up out wide and beat his man, making beeline for goal.
Once he had the goal in sight, he slotted it past the Astana keeper with ease.
Goal – Marc Guiu (Chelsea)
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
13. Astana clip a high-ball into the edge of the box.
Jorgensen comes steaming out his goal to punch it but misses.
Not convincing goalkeeping from the Chelsea man.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
11. The Blues will be wanting a win this evening.
They have won their last five games and will want to keep that run going.
Completely different side, Maresca will want the same mentality.
Credit: Reuters
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
9. It has been a scrappy start to this game.
Both sides are trying to find their feet in this one.
VAR is checking for a potential penalty for Chelsea during the melee of the corner.
Check complete, nothing doing.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
7. Both sides are gifting possession away here.
Rak-Sakyi is bundled over in the middle of the park and wins a foul.
Chelsea are patiently passing the ball around, Neto picks it up out wide and cuts inside onto his left foot.
He gets a shot off but the keeper gets down well to parry behind for a corner.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
5. The hosts look to clip a ball over the top to break the Chelsea offside trap.
No such luck as the linesman flags.
Both sides are looking to get forward when the chance presents itself.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
3. The visitors win a free kick in a dangerous position.
Chance for Enzo Maresca’s side to work the keeper.
They play it short and George tries his luck from the edge of the box but it is well wide of the target.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
1. It is usually the winter break in Kazakhstan now.
Astana are having to play to due to these European commitments.
The Blues are looking to get their foot on the balll and pass it around in the early stages here.
Kick-off: Astana vs Chelsea
We are underway in Kazakhstan.
It is a cold evening for the visitors to get used to.
Chelsea get the game started.
New opponent for West London side
This is the first-ever match between Chelsea and any club from Kazakhstan.
Astana’s only match-up with English opponents, meanwhile, came in the 2019 Europa League group stage against Manchester United.
They lost 1-0 at Old Trafford but came from behind on their own 4G pitch to beat a very young Red Devils side 2-1.
Maresca making most out of size
While the Chelsea manager has moaned about the amount of travelling his side have had to do for this match, only two of the entire squad are every likely to be involved in the Premier League.
Pedro Neto and Axel Disasi start this evening for The Blues.
Enzo Maresca is probably glad now that Chelsea have a squad bigger than a lot of countries’ armies now.
Former Fox gets some game time
When Kiernan Deewsbury-Hall chose to switch the King Power for Stamford Bridge, he would have expected to see much more game time.
The former Leicester midfielder has seen more of the Chelsea bench than he has the pitch in West London.
He will be hoping to impress this evening to get more of a glimpse of first-team action.
Credit: Getty Blues firm favourites for win
The bookies cannot see anything but an away victory in Kazakhstan this afternoon:
Astana – 6/1
Draw – 15/4
Chelsea – 3/8
All match odds brought to you by Betway.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
