Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk starred as a second-string Chelsea beat Panathinaikos 4-1 in Athens to continue their winning start to the UEFA Conference League.
Portugal international Felix opened the scoring for the Blues midway through the opening period as he tapped home Mudryk’s squared ball from close range.
It was the Ukraine international who doubled the visitors’ advantage four minutes into the second period before turning provider once again as he teed up Felix, whose deflected strike made it three.
The former Atletico Madrid man then won a penalty that Christopher Nkunku calmly converted to take the game away from the hosts, who scored a consolation via Facundo Pellistri’s tap-in.
It was an emotional evening for the Greek side as they paid tribute to George Baldock in their first home game since his tragic death.
They remain on one point after their draw on Matchday 1, while Enzo Maresca’s men make it two wins from two following their 4-2 triumph over Gent at Stamford Bridge to kick off their campaign.
Panathinaikos’ best chance of the match before their goal midway through the second period came in the opening minutes of the game as defender Tin Jedvaj was left in acres at the back post from a free-kick but saw his header well-saved by Filip Jorgensen.
Despite Chelsea’s dominance in the first half, they struggled to create anything clear-cut either side of Felix’s goal, which came after the 24-year-old won a flick on from a long ball to find Mudryk before making the box to finish off the move.
The Blues had a far greater cutting edge following the interval and quickly produced another tidy move as Pedro Neto worked a one-two with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before finding the head of Mudryk at the back post to make it two.
It was a similar move that created the third goal: Mudryk set up Felix on the edge of the box and the Portuguese was the beneficiary of a wicked deflection that saw the ball divert past the goalkeeper.
Felix then won the penalty as his flicked pass off the outside of his boot inside the area struck the arm of Daniel Mancini. Nkunku managed to deal with distraction of several lasers in his eyes as he slotted his spot kick into the bottom left corner.
Panathinaikos manager Diego Alonso did not start a full-strength side, but when he began to introduce more of his first-choice eleven the hosts soon reaped the rewards.
Nine minutes after coming on, right-back Georgios Vagiannidis made an excellent overlapping run before putting the ball on a plate for Pellistri to tap home at the back post.
The home side continued to offer a threat down their right flank in the closing stages and a goal-line clearance from Axel Disasi was required to prevent the Blues conceding a second.
Chelsea’s rhythm became somewhat disrupted as substitutes were made but their healthy lead offered the chance for the likes of 18-year-old Tyrique George to get some valuable minutes.
Up next for Maresca’s side is a home clash in the Premier League against Newcastle on Sunday, while their next European tie sees them welcome Armenian side Noah to Stamford Bridge.
Talking Point – Chance for the ‘B-team’ to impress
Maresca continued with the same approach in terms of team selection for Europe’s third-tier competition as he made eleven changes from the team that started in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at Anfield on Sunday, with many of his first-choice line-up not travelling to Greece.
This evening’s tie was consequently a chance for his second-string side to stake their claim to be a part of the Premier League outfit, and it was Felix and Mudryk who did this the most effectively with the pair each involved in three of Chelsea’s four goals.
Ahead of tonight’s clash, Neto and Nkunku were arguably the two forwards knocking on the door the hardest, but despite Neto’s assist for Mudryk and Nkunku converting his penalty, they had relatively quiet evenings in comparison to their attacking counterparts.
Elsewhere, Marc Cucurella will most likely slot back into the side for Sunday’s visit of Newcastle following his suspension for the Liverpool clash, while Romeo Lavia continues to impress in the little time he has spent on the pitch this season.
Player of the Match – Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea)
There was little to choose between Felix and Mudryk but the Ukraine international probably produced a slightly more dynamic and influencial performance aside from his three goal involvements. His electric pace caused problems for Panathinaikos throughout.
Player Ratings
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-Hall 7, Fernandes 6; Neto 7, Felix 8, Mudryk 8*; Nkunku 6. Subs: Casadei 6, Chukwuemeka 5, George 6, Guiu 5.
Match Highlights
22′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-1 CHELSEA (FELIX): Felix flicks it on with his head to an onrushing Mudryk on the left. The winger drives into the box before squaring it back to the Portuguese international who taps home.
49′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-2 CHELSEA (MUDRYK): Neto hangs a cross up to the back post where Mudryk arrives and heads it into the ground past Dragowski to double Chelsea’s advantage.
55′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-3 CHELSEA (FELIX): Mudryk tees up Felix who looks to curl one from the edge of the area. His effort takes a wicked deflection and goes in the bottom left corner.
59′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 0-4 CHELSEA (NKUNKU): Nkunku has to deal with lasers being shone in his eyes but makes no mistake as he strokes his penalty into the bottom left corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.
69′ – GOAL! PANATHINAIKOS 1-4 CHELSEA (PELLISTRI): Tete slides in the overlapping right-back Vagiannidis into the right of the box. The defender squares it across the face of the goal to Pellistri to tap home at the back post.
Key Stat
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