Panathinaikos 1-4 Chelsea: Tactical analysis of Chelsea's dominant away performance

Chelsea shifted their focus to the Europa Conference League as they traveled to Athens to face Panathinaikos. Although the game began as a competitive contest, it quickly turned into a dominant display by the west London side, who controlled proceedings and eased into a 4-1 victory. In this article, The Pride of London dive into how the match unfolded tactically, examining both Chelsea’s in-possession and out-of-possession strategies and how they contributed to this impressive performance.

Panathinaikos' Early Pressing Strategy

From the start, Panathinaikos caused Chelsea some issues by executing a well-drilled high press. Chelsea, however, entered with a clear in-possession game plan from the outset. The initial structure resembled a 3-3-4 setup with a few notable roles across the lineup.

In defense, Benoît Badiashile took on the central center-back position, with Axel Disasi on the right and Renato Veiga on the left. In midfield, Enzo Fernández operated as the central holding midfielder, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall took the right central midfield spot, and Marc Cucurella filled the left. Up front, Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto held wide positions near the touchlines, while Christopher Nkunku and João Félix occupied the half-spaces, creating an aggressive forward structure. This positioning provided Chelsea with an initial overload, giving them a numerical advantage when progressing the ball.

Enzo Maresca's Possession Tactics

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s decision to set up this structure was tactical. The primary aim was to create an overload in the middle third of the pitch, allowing Chelsea more control in ball progression. At times, this set-up created a 7v6 advantage, particularly when a Panathinaikos center-back opted not to step up to challenge Chelsea’s players in the half-spaces. This flexibility allowed Chelsea to adapt to Panathinaikos’ defensive movements, with long balls available as an option when Félix and Nkunku drew aggressive attention from defenders, leaving space for Mudryk and Neto.

Initially, Nkunku found plenty of room to exploit, but Chelsea struggled to fully utilize this advantage in the early minutes, still finding their rhythm. Nevertheless, Chelsea created a couple of early opportunities through Nkunku’s positioning in the half-spaces. His presence drew Panathinaikos’ left-back narrow, freeing Neto to challenge the fullback and nearly creating a goal for Mudryk with an almost perfect cross to the back post. Recognizing this vulnerability, Panathinaikos adjusted, instructing their center-back to press Nkunku more aggressively, ultimately preventing Chelsea from consistently capitalizing on the overload.

Panathinaikos' Defensive Plan: The Man-to-Man Trigger

Panathinaikos performed well in the first 20 minutes out of possession (OOP), deploying a clever strategy of initially sitting back to block central passing lanes before launching man-to-man pressing. Their trigger for pressing was a sideways pass to Chelsea’s wide center-backs, Disasi and Veiga, at which point Panathinaikos would go man-to-man. While this method was effective, Panathinaikos refrained from pressing Chelsea aggressively during Chelsea’s goal-kick build-ups, choosing instead to maintain a structured mid-block.

Chelsea adapted by utilizing goalkeeper Lucas Bergström as an additional player to escape Panathinaikos’ man-to-man press. By involving Bergström, Chelsea could create overloads even under pressure, enabling them to find open players and attack from the back more fluidly. Gradually, Chelsea began to settle into a rhythm, breaking down Panathinaikos’ press with more ease.

Chelsea’s Defensive Structure and Pressing Tactics

Chelsea’s out-of-possession strategy saw them alternate between a hybrid pressing scheme and a more traditional man-to-man setup. When Panathinaikos attempted to build out, Chelsea’s man-to-man press forced long passes, which Chelsea’s defenders were typically able to win in aerial duels. This adaptability in Chelsea’s pressing led to turnovers and allowed them to assert greater control over possession, especially around the 30-minute mark, where Chelsea started to dominate both in possession and territory.

Chelsea’s ability to bypass Panathinaikos’ high press became evident as the game progressed. Panathinaikos often pressed with a -1 player, and at times with a -2 due to disjointed organization, allowing Chelsea to consistently find free players with relative ease.

Chelsea’s Exploitation of Space and Key Goals

Around the half-hour mark, Maresca’s tactical approach began to show its full effect. Chelsea exploited the space left by Panathinaikos’ press, with Dewsbury-Hall and Félix playing crucial roles. Dewsbury-Hall’s fluid movements drew markers out of position, while Félix and Mudryk worked together to create overloads on the left wing. When Félix’s marker followed him, space opened in the center for Cucurella, adding layers to Chelsea’s attack.

The second goal epitomized Chelsea’s game plan: Chelsea bypassed Panathinaikos' press with relative ease, with Nkunku skillfully exploiting open pockets of space, particularly when Panathinaikos' center-back failed to step up. On the flank, Neto’s sharp 1v1 drive allowed him to deliver a precise cross to Mudryk at the far post, setting up a well-earned goal for Chelsea. The third goal and the penalty that led to the fourth shared similar themes, with Nkunku and Félix finding pockets of space in the half-spaces following successful escapes from Panathinaikos’ press.

Panathinaikos' Limited Offensive Success

Despite some offensive transitions, Panathinaikos struggled to create high-quality chances in Chelsea’s box. Their attempts to move over the top or exploit the flanks rarely troubled Chelsea’s defensive organization. Nevertheless, a moment of incisiveness did lead to Panathinaikos’ sole goal, converted by Facundo Pellistri. While this moment showcased Panathinaikos’ resilience, it also highlighted areas where Chelsea could improve in defensive transitions.

Conclusion: Chelsea’s Momentum Continues

Overall, Chelsea’s performance in Athens was straightforward, though not flawless. The Blues demonstrated their tactical flexibility, successfully adapting to Panathinaikos’ press and scoring goals through well-constructed plays. Maresca’s game plan provided a compelling blueprint for navigating the Europa Conference League, showcasing both depth and tactical discipline.

As Chelsea heads back to Premier League action against Newcastle United, they carry forward the momentum of a commanding European performance. For supporters and analysts alike, Maresca’s evolving tactics offer plenty of promise as the season progresses.