Astana v Chelsea LIVE: Conference League score and updates as Marc Guiu brace gives Blues comfortable lead
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:
Half-time! Astana 1-3 Chelsea
45+2 mins: There’s the whistle for half-time. Chelsea are controlled and composed. The Blues are on their way to securing an automatic qualifying spot in the Conference League.
GOAL! Astana 1-3 Chelsea (Marin Tomasov, 45’)
Out of nowhere!
Astana’s best period of the half comes just before the break. They work it over to the right side of the pitch before feeding it to Marin Tomasov.
He cuts inside of Renato Veiga then fizzes an effort at goal and beat Filip Jorgensen.
Astana 0-3 Chelsea
42 mins: Very professional and very controlled from Chelsea. Astana haven’t played for a couple of weeks and it shows. They’re off the pace and it’s only towards the back end of this half that they’ve shown a bit of intensity in possession.
GOAL! Astana 0-3 Chelsea (Renato Veiga, 39’)
Renato Veiga gets on the scoresheet. This one is as easy as you like.
From a corner Veiga drifts into the middle of the box and leaps higher than anyone else. He wins the header and powers it into the back of the net.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
39 mins: Chelsea youngsters seem right at home on this stage. The Conference League is a perfect opportunity for them to get a feel for the first team.
Astana are trying to punch back. Chineda gets another sight at goal as he arrives in the box from the left. He shoots first time and sends the ball straight into the hands of Filip Jorgensen.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
36 mins: Oh hello, maybe they do?
A quick counter attack sees the hosts force Chelsea to back track. The ball is sent up to Chinedu who has a lot of space ahead of him. He decides to unleash a shot but mishits it and lifts the ball very high and very wide.
He sighs in frustration at his own effort.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
33 mins: Chelsea’s dominance continues. Watching this game feels as though Chelsea are picking their moments to attack and score goals.
Their build-up is slow but controlled and Astana don’t have an answer.
Astana 0-2 Chelsea
30 mins: Marc Guiu is clattered and stays on the deck after taking a knock to the knee from Aleksa Amanovic. The Astana midfielder is booked and Guiu needs to run the pain off, especially in this cold weather.
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