In UEFA and FIFA competitions, Chelsea have taken on 103 different clubs from 36 different countries, but this'll be their first-ever encounters with Kazakh opposition, travelling over 3,500 miles east to Almaty, close to the Chinese boarder, for this one.
Astana vs Chelsea Preview
Chelsea have found the UEFA Conference League all too easy to date, so will they collect three more points along way from home on Thursday? So far in the league phase, the Blues have won all four matches, scoring 18 goals and conceding just three, thereby sat top of the table, one of only two clubs, Legia Warszawa the other, currently on maximum points.
Most-notably, Chelsea steamrollered FC Noah 8-0 at Stamford Bridge, six-up by half time, before battling to a slightly more hard-fought 2-0 victory over Heidenheim a fortnight ago, thanks to second half goals from Christopher Nkunku and then Mykhailo Mudryk in Germany.
The league phase concludes next Thursday, when Shamrock Rovers will visit West London, but the Blues must first travel in excess of 3,500 miles east to Almaty, which is equidistant away from England's capital as Philadelphia, where the Blues will also play two FIFA Club World Cup fixtures next June. The weather forecast suggests it'll be -12°C when this one kicks off at 8:30pm local time (3:30 back in the UK), so how will Enzo Maresca's team fare in far from ideal conditions?
Astana too don't want to be playing at Almaty Central Stadium, given that this venue is 747 miles south of their usual home in the Kazakh capital that is currently undergoing renovations; for context, that's the same distance apart as Stamford Bridge and San Mamés in Bilbao!
The Yellow and Blues have established themselves as Kazakhstan's dominant force, winning seven titles since 2014, albeit they've only been champions in one of the last five seasons, concluding this year's campaign second, a point adrift Kairat. Nevertheless, as a result, Astana have become familiar faces in UEFA competition, with this their seventh group phase appearance in the last ten seasons, aiming to reach the knockout stages for only the second time.
So far in the league phase, Grigori Babayan's team are unbeaten at home, defeating TSC Bačka Topola 1-0 and holding Vitória de Guimarães to a credible 1-1 draw, but losing both fixtures on the road, beaten by The New Saints in Shrewsbury and Pafos in Limassol. Given that Astana kick off 20th in the table, with a return to Cyprus on the agenda next Thursday, they'll take on APOEL in Nicosia, should they lose this one, as most would expect, their fate would be very much in the balance.
Astana vs Chelsea Head-to-Head Record
These two clubs have never previously met.
Astana Team News
Grigoriy Babayan's team will certainly be well-rested, with this their first fixture for two weeks, given that they were most-recently in domestic action on 23 November, claiming victory in Kazakh League Cup Final over Zhenis. Thus, he could name an unchanged team to the one that held Vitória de Guimarães to a 1-1 draw a fortnight ago.
Astana predicted lineup vs Chelsea: (4-2-3-1): Čondrić; Bartolec, Kalaica, Kažukolovas, Vorogovsky; Kuat, Ebong, Gripshi, Tomasov, Camara, Geoffrey.
Astana Player to Watch vs Chelsea
Nigerian striker Chinedu Geoffrey scored five times during Conference League qualifying, but is yet to get off the mark in the league phase, so will that fact change here?
Chelsea Team News
With West London rivals Brentford visiting on Sunday, Enzo Maresca is expected to leave many of his stars in London, relieving them of the extremely long journey east. Reece James and Wesley Fofana are injured, Roméo Lavia and Cole Palmer are not in the UEFA squad and Cesare Casadei is suspended, following his red card against Heidenheim. Axel Disasi, who's started all six Conference League fixtures so far, would sit out the clash with Shamrock Rovers if booked. Mykhaylo Mudryk missed Sunday's victory at Spurs due to illness, but could return here, while goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and João Félix have also featured more regularly in this competition compared to the Premier League.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Astana: (4-2-3-1): Jörgensen; Disasi, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Veiga; Chukwuemeka, Dewsbury-Hall, Nkunku, João Félix, George; Guiu.
Chelsea Player to Watch vs Astana
Christopher Nkunku has scored in all six Conference League fixtures to date, with seven of his 12 goals this season coming in this tournament, so will he maintain this perfect record?
Astana vs Chelsea Prediction
Despite the far from ideal conditions, we are forecasting a very comfortable Chelsea victory. Astana did beat Man United at home five years ago, the only previous occasion they've hosted Premier League opposition, but Chelsea's B-team is jam-packed full of quality and should be far too strong at Almaty Central Stadium: Astana 0-4 Chelsea.
Astana vs Chelsea FAQs - Conference League
How to watch Astana vs Chelsea Conference League game on TV channel?
Astana vs Chelsea Conference League game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: TNT Sports 2
- USA: Paramount+ & ViX.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch v vs Chelsea Conference League game on live streaming?
Astana vs Chelsea Conference League game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: Discovery+
- USA: Paramount+ & ViX.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Astana vs Chelsea in the Conference League?
Astana vs Chelsea takes place on Thursday 12 December 2024, with kick off at 15:30 (GMT), 10:30 (EDT) & 7:30 (PST).