Here’s our Astana vs Chelsea preview, prediction, team news and confirmed line-ups ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League fixture.
Astana Vs Chelsea Preview
Along with Polish side Legia Warsaw, Chelsea are one of only two teams with a perfect record in the Europa Conference League.
With four wins from four, they are top of the table on 12 points. Enzo Maresca’s side have scored 18 goals and conceded just three so far.
They beat German outfit FC Heidenheim 2-0 last time out, and have scored at least four goals in their other three games.
As Conference League teams only play six league phase matches – unlike the eight played in the Champions League and Europa League – Chelsea can all but mathematically book their place in the knockouts with a win against Astana.
The Blues have been in great form domestically, too. They came from behind to beat Tottenham 4-3 at the weekend in one of the games of the season so far, and are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.
Chelsea are now second behind Liverpool in the Premier League and have established themselves as title contenders.
Kazakhstan side Astana are playing their second successive season in the Conference League. They beat Backa Topola in their opening game, but have since taken just one point from three games.
Although they go into Thursday’s game as major underdogs, Astana can still qualify for the playoffs, and currently sit 23rd in the table at present.
The chance to host former European champions Chelsea has fans buzzing with excitement. And having gone unbeaten at home for 13 games in all competitions, the hosts will fancy their chances of pulling off an unlikely result.
5,606km away from home for our next #UECL clash. ✈️🌏 pic.twitter.com/5KPsk3MuFj
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 11, 2024
Astana vs Chelsea Team News
The hosts have not played for two weeks, and boast a fully fit squad. Aleksa Amanovic and Maks Ebong are likely to continue their partnership in midfield, with top-scorer Geoffrey Chinedu leading the line and hoping to add to his 10 goals already this season.
Chelsea’s massive squad means plenty of big names are ineligible, having not been registered for the Conference League.
Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Ben Chilwell and Marcus Bettinelli will all be missing. Fofana and Lavia are injured anyway, along with the desperately unlucky Reece James.
Cesare Casadei is suspended after being sent off against Heidenheim, while Mykhaylo Mudryk will hope to shake off his recent illness in time to play.
With heavy rotation expected, we could see plenty of youngsters make the squad.
Astana vs Chelsea Confirmed Lineups
Astana: Seysen; Bartolec, Kazukolovas, Marochkin, Vorogovskiy; Ebong, Amanovic; Tomasov, Kalaica, Camara; Geoffrey
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi (c), Tosin, Veiga; Rak-Sakyi, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Chukwuemeka, George; Guiu
Astana vs Chelsea Prediction
The hosts will be looking to upset the odds on Thursday and pull off a miraculous result. But with the quality Chelsea possess, this isn’t likely.
Even if Maresca makes 11 changes to the side that beat Tottenham on Sunday, we fully expect Chelsea to win comfortably.
However, the freezing temperatures in Kazakhstan may cause the visitors a few problems.
Prediction: Astana 0-4 Chelsea
