Chelsea cruise to win against Astana to seal spot in Conference League last 16
Victory in Kazakhstan maintains Blues' 100% record in competition
Guiu stars in dominant win for Chelsea side showing 10 changes
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
The ball is played out to youngster Tyrique George and he skips inside his full back before curling the ball towards the top corner.
It floats wide of the upright but a good early sighter for the teenager.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
Carney Chukwuemeka is unceremoniously dumped to the floor as he looks to cut inside from the left and Chelsea are awarded the first free kick of the game.
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Just looking up where Almaty is, wow. It's as east as Delhi, that's far!
Adam in St Helens
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
Lucy Ward
Former Leeds striker on TNT Sports
Image source, ReutersIt's a tough game for Chelsea for many reasons - the environment, how far they have travelled and the time difference.
But it's fantastic for these young players who start today. It will be a proud day for everyone associated with them.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea give the ball away early while playing it around at the back.
Alexandr Marochkin can't latch onto the loose ball though and Axel Disasi intercepts.
Astana 0-0 Chelsea
Annnd we're under way!
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
The teams are out on the pitch and the Europa Conference League anthem is ringing out around the stadium.
Breath is clearly visible in front of the players' faces. Some of them have opted to go without gloves, a very brave move...
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Karen Carney
Former England midfielder on TNT Sports
Josh Acheampong was a bit exiled at Chelsea due to the contract situation but he is now back in the team and starting today. It's a massive game for him.
He's got everything about him and a lot of people at Chelsea see him as a long-term replacement for Reece James.
When you are Chelsea and you see their academy kids get through, there will be a lot of academy staff who will be very happy today.
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Joe Cole
Ex-Chelsea and England midfielder on TNT Sports
Image source, ReutersMarc Guiu brings a lot of energy, enthusiasm and endeavour into this Chelsea side. I was very impressed by him from the last match and he has got to set the tone today.
It's also a huge game for Carney Chukwuemeka. He last started a game all the way back in August 2023. He will look to be on the ball and open up the game,
Chelsea also have two experienced players in their defence in Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi. They will be crucial and will need to organise the players around them.
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca speaking to TNT Sports: "The feeling is good. We are happy to be here. We are going to try our best to win this game."
On below-freezing temperature: "We arrived last night quite last night. Today we prepared for the game in the hotel with the players - no more than that. You have to be ready. We knew already about the weather."
On his team selection: "We have many young players and the reason why they are here and some of them will play is because they are good players. We give them the chance and hopefully, they can win us the game."
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Image source, Getty ImagesI expect Marc Guiu to give Maresca food for thought today.
Henry
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesDespite a flawless Conference League league phase campaign so far Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is refusing to consider his side favourites to win the competition.
When asked about his side's chances this week the Italian was firm in his response. "No. The main target is to go to the group stage and then on and on," he said. "I don't like to think about anything more. It is not about ambitions."
Chelsea have scored 18 goals across their four games, and conceded just three.
However the Blues boss is refusing to look beyond their next game against Astana.
"I am ambitious - the players and the club all are - but in my opinion, if you think too far ahead, you can lose your focus on the now."
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Chelsea can turn out a third eleven and still be competitive, other PL teams can’t even turn out a first eleven. Fair playing field!! Have and have nots!
Derek, Norfolk
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Joe Cole
Ex-Chelsea and England midfielder on TNT Sports
It's an important game for Chelsea. They've been absolutely brilliant. Something just clicked at the club two or three weeks into the season. It's been fantastic.
I'm happy to go on record to say that there will be a title challenge coming from Chelsea if everything goes well in the next couple of months.
There aren't many weakness in this team now and it's credit to Enzo Maresca. Everything is rosy at the moment for them.
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Should Chelsea beat Astana this evening they would tie their club record for wins in the opening stage of a European campaign (5).
In the 2018/19 season they won five and drew one of their six Europa League group stage games. The Blues went on to win the competition that year, beating Arsenal 4-1 in the final in Baku.
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Massive respect to the fans making the trip! Surely Kazakhstan would be a hell of an away day.
Jezza, London
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Chelsea fans making the 3,700-mile (6,000km) journey to Almaty for today's game were gifted a special keepsake when they collected their tickets at the club box office.
A keychain with the club logo and the inscription, "Over land and sea. Stamford Bridge to Almaty."
It is the club's furthest-ever away trip in European competition.
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Image source, ReutersFC Astana would normally be hosting Chelsea at their home ground Astana Arena in the Kazakhstan capital, which has a capacity of around 30,000.
However the retractable roof on the stadium is currently undergoing renovations, meaning today's game is being played 600 miles away in the city of Almaty, in the south of the country.
The highest ice rink in the world is said to be situated close by, one for the travelling Chelsea fans to enjoy as part of their sight-seeing adventures around the city.
Astana v Chelsea (15:30 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesFC Astana finished runners-up in the Kazakhstan Premier League which concluded last month, losing out on a potential record extending eighth league title to champions Kairat by a single point.
It wasn't a trophyless domestic campaign for them though, they beat Zhenys 2-0 to claim the Kazakhstan League Cup back in March.
They have found matters much tougher in the Europa Conference League, having won one, drawn one and lost two of their opening four games.
Astana do sit in the penultimate play off spot though, so they retain a good chance of making it into the next round.
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
This Chelsea team is riding high at the moment and the squad are hungry when they get the chance. No repeat of the result vs Noah, but expect youngsters Carney, Tyrique and Marc Guiu to all bag a goal.
Nick from Bermondsey
Marc Guiu also scored against FC Noah in this competition on 7 November
Former Barcelona youngster Marc Guiu caught the eye as he helped fire Chelsea into the knockout stage of the Uefa Conference League with victory against Astana in Kazakhstan.
The Blues had made the 3,600-mile trip to Almaty for the game, which was played in difficult conditions including temperatures of -11C.
But it did not stop the much-changed Chelsea line-up from securing a comfortable win, getting the job done with three first-half goals.
Spanish youth international Guiu, 18, was one of a number of youngsters given the chance to impress and he did just that by opening the scoring in the 14th minute, embarking on an impressive solo run before slotting in.
His shot four minutes later from Pedro Neto's cross was then helped over the line by Aleksandr Marochkin to put the Blues in control.
Renato Veiga added a third shortly before the break with a header for his second goal of the season.
Marin Tomasov produced a moment of magic on the stroke of half-time to send the Astana fans wild, cutting inside before smashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner.
The tempo dropped in the second half, with Chelsea managing the game rather than pushing for more goals.
The win means they remain top in the league phase of the Conference League with 15 points from five games.
They will conclude this stage of the competition against Irish side Shamrock Rovers on 19 December.
This was Chelsea's longest-ever European trip involving a 7,000-mile round journey travelling through five different time zones.
The eight hours of travel to Kazakhstan, coupled with freezing temperatures, posed a different challenge for the Blues' players but they adapted well to secure a comfortable victory that maintains their impressive form so far in Europe.
Their five wins equalled a club record in European football, having won five and drawn one of their six Europa League group stage games in 2018-19.
With Chelsea playing a game every three or four days in December, Blues boss Enzo Maresca appears to be reaping the rewards of being able to rotate his squad.
They made 10 changes for this game, with only Neto retaining his place from the side that beat Tottenham at the weekend, and he played his part in the first two goals.
But the fringe players showed the desire to impress that Maresca will have wanted to see as he looks to navigate through a busy period for his side.
Aside from Guiu, winger Tyrique George and defender Josh Acheampong - both 18 - and 19-year-old midfielder Samuel Rak-Sakyi also started the game, and all more than played their part in a comfortable and controlled Chelsea display.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 17 | 15 |
| |
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 12 |
| |
| 3 | Legia Warszawa | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 12 |
|
| 4 | Lugano | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
|
| 5 | Cercle Brugge | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
|
| 6 | Jagiellonia Białystok | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
|
| 7 | Rapid Vienna | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
|
| 8 | Vitória Guimarães | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
|
| 9 | APOEL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
|
| 10 | Djurgården | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
|
| 11 | Olimpija | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
|
| 12 | Heidenheim | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
|
| 13 | Shamrock Rovers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
|
| 14 | København | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
|
| 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| |
| 16 | Borac Banja Luka | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
|
| 17 | Víkingur Reykjavík | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 7 |
|
| 18 | Pafos | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
|
| 19 | Gent | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 6 |
|
| 20 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 6 |
| |
| 21 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 5 |
|
| 22 | Celje | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
|
| 23 | TSC | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 4 |
|
| 24 | Molde | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 4 |
|
| 25 | Panathinaikos | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 4 |
|
| 26 | Astana | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 4 |
|
| 27 | St.Gallen | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 4 |
|
| 28 | HJK | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 4 |
|
| 29 | Noah | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 4 |
|
| 30 | Omonia Nicosia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
|
| 31 | The New Saints | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
|
| 32 | Mladá Boleslav | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
|
| 33 | Dinamo Minsk | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
|
| 34 | LASK | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | -10 | 2 |
|
| 35 | Petrocub | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 1 |
|
| 36 | Larne | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 12 | -10 | 0 |
|
Manager: Grigoriy Babayan
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
Manager: Enzo Maresca
Formation: diamond
Manager: Grigoriy Babayan
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
Manager: Enzo Maresca
Formation: diamond
UEFA Conference League
Skip to form guideAll competitions
Skip back to season so far
