Astana v Chelsea LIVE: Conference League team news and line-ups with Blues starlet handed full debut
The Blues travel to Kazakhstan with Enzo Maresca ready to hand out a number of debuts to the club’s best youngsters
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea travel to Kazakhstan in the Conference League to play Astana in a gruelling midweek trip.
The Blues have taken a young squad with many highly-rated talents set for a debut in the freezing conditions of Almaty.
Enzo Maresca will hope to maintain the good form following a thrilling comeback victory at Tottenham on Sunday, with Cole Palmer thriving, before turning attention back to league matters and a Sunday evening kick-off against Brentford.
Chelsea are top of the Conference League, level with Legia Warszawa, with just two games remaining against Astana and Shamrock Rovers back at Stamford Bridge on 19 December.
Follow all the latest build-up to the early kick-off in the Conference League in our live blog below:
Kick off! Astana 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea get the ball rolling with their breaths visible in the cold air. They’ll want to get warmed up quickly so expect a quick tempo to start with.
The Blues look to keep the ball around the defence and draw out the home side.
Astana vs Chelsea
Here come the teams.
The players head out onto the pitch in cold, frosty conditions. Enzo Maresca has named an inexperienced team for the most part but the are some leaders on the pitch including captain for this evening Axel Disasi.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka will be hoping to impress as well. Can the Blues come away with a win?
Let’s find out, kick off is up next...
Astana vs Chelsea
Chelsea have never previously won all six opening-stage matches in a European competition. The closest wthey have come to perfection was five wins and one draw in Group L of the 2018/19 Europa League.
They went on to win the competition that year.
New Chelsea signing Estevao reveals Cole Palmer talks and preferred position
New Chelsea signing Estevao Willian has revealed that he and Cole Palmer have been chatting over Instagram as the 17-year-old Brazilian prepares to move to London in July.
Estevao will join Enzo Maresca’s side from Palmeiras in the summer after agreeing to sign for the London club last summer.
The teenager has enjoyed an excellent season in South America, scoring 15 times in all competitions and earning his first international call-up.
New Chelsea signing Estevao reveals Cole Palmer talks and preferred position
The Brazilian teenager will join Palmer at Chelsea in July of next year
Pre-match thoughts from Enzo Maresca
The Chelsea boss said: “Just two teams have conceded less than us, so we are attacking and defending well.
“I’ve said before, you’re not going to win games or titles just scoring goals, you need to defend, but even conceding three goals (against Tottenham), just two clubs have conceded more than us so it means defensively we are doing quite well.”
‘We’ve been waiting for this game'
Astana defender Abzal Beisebekov said: “We have been waiting for this game for a long time and have prepared thoroughly. We are 100% confident in our abilities and believe we can achieve a good result.”
Pre-match throughts from Grigoriy Babayan
Astana coach Grigoriy Babayan said: “We are playing against one of the best teams in Europe.
“They showcase some of the finest football in the Premier League and they are at the top with maximum points and goals in the Conference League.
“A team of this calibre are coming to Almaty for the first time, it’s a great moment for Almaty and Kazakhstan.”
Astana v Chelsea
Disasi on the cold temperatures
When asked about the cold temperatures expected for tonight’s match Axel Disasi said: “We just have to put on two pairs of gloves and be ready to compete in these conditions.
“We all know the conditions of these games, it’s eight hour flight and minus 11, so download some movies to watch on the plane, be ready to fight and keep first place.”
Maresca on Chelsea’s long trip to Astana
“Eight hours [one way] is not a normal time [to travel] for a game, but we have to go there, we have to play and we want to try to do our best, thinking also about the next game,” said Enzo Maresca ahead of this match.
Chelsea are currently top of the Conference League table with four wins from four and have taken a bunch of youngsters with them for this trip.
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