Chelsea secured a comfortable win against Panathinaikos on an emotional night in Athens as João Félix scored twice to maintain their perfect start to the Conference League.

It was a poignant occasion for the Greek team, which mourned the death of defender George Baldock, a tragedy made all the more urgent by the fact that the 31-year-old was in the starting line-up for the team’s last home game on October 6, three days before his Death.

Before kick-off, a live band played David Bowie’s “Starman” before a minute’s silence was observed in his memory at the stadium. To pay their own tribute, the visitors posed with a Chelsea shirt featuring Baldock’s name and number 32.

Felix scored after 22 minutes to keep calm at the Olympic Stadium before Enzo Maresca’s side really stepped up their pace in the second half, scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes after the break to devastate the home team and take them a step down in the league to accomplish.

Mykhailo Mudryk responded to Maresca’s pre-match challenge and finally showed what he can do with a well-struck header before Félix scored his second and Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty. Former Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri scored a consolation goal in the second half.

Chelsea had controlled large parts of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool but with a completely different line-up in Athens they struggled to establish the same authority in the first 20 minutes.

They might have fallen behind in the second minute when Croatia international Tin Jedvaj hammered a header into the ground from Filip Mladenovic’s free-kick and goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen’s reflexes undid the hosts.

The home fans had created a loud, febrile atmosphere, but Chelsea tempered the mood with their opening goal. Félix directed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s high pass with a clever header wide to Mudryk, continued his run into the penalty area and arrived at the perfect moment to direct Mudryk’s curled cross from six meters into the corner.

Bartlomiej Dragowski’s palms were bruised by a fierce 18-yard drive from Enzo Fernández, the only other chance of note in the first half.

The green and white squad that had gathered behind Dragowski’s goal roared back to life after the break, but after just a few minutes Chelsea were two points ahead. Pedro Neto received the ball back from Dewsbury-Hall and hit a cross to the far post for Mudryk, who was determined to get to the ball before his defender and score his first goal of the season.

The Ukrainian scored a goal and two assists for Chelsea’s third half, channeling the ball inside to Félix, who deflected the ball into the corner.

Mladenovic handled Félix’s shot in his penalty area, giving Nkunku the chance to score his eighth goal of the season from the penalty spot. Pellistri came on after Panathinaikos had broken through Chelsea on the left, but by then Maresca’s job was already done.