Panathinaikos were our opponents on matchday two of our European campaign, but after Joao Felix gave us the lead midway through the first 45 minutes, the Blues never looked like losing the battle at the Olympic Stadium.

This was confirmed and three goals in just ten minutes of the second half secured our victory. Mykhailo Mudryk doubled our lead with a header from close range, Felix grabbed his second with a deflected shot from the edge of the box and Christopher Nkunku netted another nerve-racking penalty.

The hosts actually scored a consolation goal with 21 minutes to play when Facundo Pellistri scored from close range. Still, there was only a little frustration as Chelsea fans left the stadium in high spirits ahead of their return to London.

Remembering George

Before the action began at the Olympic Stadium, there was a touching tribute to George Baldock, the Panathinaikos player who sadly passed away earlier this month.

Before the game, fans staged a stadium-wide demonstration while the Blues starting XI came together in a show of unity to honor Baldock with a Chelsea shirt emblazoned with his name and squad number, which will be gifted to our hosts.

Then it was time for football – for which Maresca made eleven changes to his team. Filip Jorgensen started in goal; Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Renato Veiga formed the defense; Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were in midfield; Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk and Nkunku started in attack.

The opportunity to take the lead had emerged within two minutes – and it was an important moment in the game. A free kick from Filip Mladenovic at the back post allowed Tin Jedvaj to fire a header towards goal. It took a save and Jorgensen responded brilliantly, pushing the ball high and wide.

It was a great stopover that ensured the charged atmosphere in the stadium didn’t get any worse. As a result, the Blues calmed down and Maresca’s tactical positioning became clear.

Without possession, Disasi was our right-back, Badiashile and Veiga were the central defenders and Cucurella was the left-back. But with the ball, the defense turned into a three-man chain and Cucurella moved into midfield alongside Fernandez and Dewsbury-Hall.

Deadlock broken

It was an approach that allowed the Blues to slowly take control of the game and we took the lead midway through the opening period.

After winning the ball in midfield, Dewsbury-Hall fired a 30-yard pass to Felix, who won his header and fired the ball to Mudryk. The Ukrainian moved into the Panathinaikos penalty area and chose the perfect moment to play a pass back to Felix. The Portuguese was able to finish skillfully from close range.

It was a moment for the traveling Chelsea fans to make their voices heard despite the constant noise from the home fans – another almost followed and we were close to doubling our lead. Mudryk was involved again when he rolled a pass along the 18-yard line to Fernandez, whose powerful shot was blocked by Bartlomiej Dragowski.

Maresca’s team continued to play the game smartly and the hosts were unable to test Jorgensen any further before half-time. The only other significant chance for the Blues came from Felix, but his long-range shot didn’t bother Dragowski.

Take control

The challenge for Maresca’s team after the break was to maintain and then increase the level of performance. We did that – and we did it in style.

Our second goal came three minutes after the break. The assist came from Neto, who exchanged passes with Dewsbury-Hall and then hit an inviting cross at the back post. Mudryk had drifted inwards from the left flank and was able to make his way home unnoticed.

Two quickly became three, with Mudryk and Felix involved again. The Ukrainian international took a free throw and played a pass to Felix on the edge of the Panathinaikos penalty area. His shot at goal was aimed at goal, but it was a deflection that ensured he beat Dragowski.

Then goal number four came from a penalty. Felix won the penalty when his attempted pass hit the arm of Jedvaj, Nkunku took responsibility and once again proved reliable as he coolly fired into the corner from 12 yards.

After building a four-goal lead, Maresca moved to the bench. Marc Guiu came on for Nkunku and Tyrique George came on for Neto.

Nevertheless, Chelsea pressed forward and Disasi allowed the French defender to fire a shot towards the near post. On this occasion, Dragowski managed to hit the ball past the goal.

The home side had little recovery after the break but scored in the 69th minute when substitute Georgios Vagiannidis burst forward and flicked the ball across the Chelsea penalty area for Pellistri to convert from six yards.

Further changes at Chelsea came with Cesare Casadei replacing Enzo Fernandez and later Carney Chukwuemeka being introduced for Dewsbury-Hall.

They helped the Blues see the game out, although Felix had a chance to complete his hat-trick after a wonderful cross from George. Unfortunately, the Portuguese international directed his volley over the crossbar and Chelsea had to settle for four goals.

What it means

After our first two Conference League games, the Blues are at the top of the league table with six out of six possible points and a goal difference of plus five.

What’s next?

A flight back to London and then work begins ahead of our Premier League clash with Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The teams

Panathinaikos: Dragowski; Kotsiras, Schenkeveld, Jedvaj, Mladenovic (Vagiannidis, 60); Cerin, Maksimovic; Mancini (Tete, 60), Ounahi (Bakasetas, 80), Pellistri (Duricic, 70); Jeremejeff (Sporar, 70)
Substitutes not used: Lodygin, Lilo, Ingason, Fikaj, Bregou, Willian Arao, Ntampizas
Goalscorers: Pellistri 69
Booked: Mladenovic 58

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Cucurella, Disasi, Badiashile, Veiga; Enzo (Casadei 71), Dewsbury Hall (Chukwuemeka, 77); Neto (George 62), Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku (Guiu 62)
Substitutes not used: Sanchez, Bergstrom, Tosin, Rak-Sakyi, Madueke, Sancho, Mheuka
Goal scorers: Joao Felix 22, 55, Mudryk 49, Nkunku 59
Booked: Disasi 90+2