Chelsea maintain perfect UECL record with win in Kazakhstan

Marc Guiu Pedro Neto
Photo: Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea’s impressive UEFA Conference League campaign rolled on as the Blues secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Kazakhstani champions Astana, extending their 100% record in the competition.

The win, achieved in the most distant European away trip in the club’s history, further solidified Chelsea’s dominance at the top of the league phase table.

With qualification to the knockout stages already assured, manager Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes to the line-up, resting key stars and giving opportunities to fringe players.

Despite the rotation, Chelsea controlled the game from the outset. The young Blues showed their quality, with Tyrique George and Pedro Neto coming close early on, before Marc Guiu broke the deadlock with a sensational solo effort in the 15th minute.

Chelsea’s dominance was evident throughout the first half as they continually tested Astana goalkeeper Mukhammedzhan Seysen. Although the hosts managed to pull a goal back in the second half, Chelsea’s superior quality ensured they remained untroubled, maintaining their momentum in the competition.

The victory not only confirms Chelsea’s place in the knockout stages but also makes a top-eight finish almost certain, courtesy of their superior goal difference. For Astana, the result leaves them with four points after five matchdays, still with a slim chance of reaching the play-off round.

Chelsea’s next fixture in the UECL will give Maresca another opportunity to rotate his squad as the team eyes the later stages of the tournament with growing confidence.