Chelsea are flying excessive within the Premier League however they return to continental motion on Thursday.
The Blues at the moment lead the Europa Convention League desk after 4 matches having blitzed a lot of their opponents within the competitors and are aiming to increase their glorious report midweek.
Nonetheless, sturdiness will likely be put to the check not by their opposition, however by the journey and circumstances.
Enzo Maresca’s facet journey all the best way to Kazakhstan for his or her upcoming European encounter, locking horns with capital facet Astana.
Will probably be the primary time that Chelsea have battled a staff from the nation in a aggressive fixture, with this season’s new-look European competitions throwing up some unprecedented clashes.
Chelsea supporters determined to see their facet in motion should beware, nonetheless, with Thursday’s fixture kicking off sooner than the same old.
Chelsea have grown accustomed to the Convention League this season however all of their matches in qualifying and through the league part have kicked off at 17:45 or 20:00 GMT. These are the usual slots for European competitors.
Nonetheless, there are generally exceptions on account of scheduling conflicts and journey. Chelsea discover that out the onerous manner on Thursday as they put together for his or her 15:30 GMT kick-off with Kazakhstan’s Astana.
Away days in European competitors are hardly ever as arduous because the journey to Kazakhstan.
Astana are at the moment taking part in their European residence matches within the metropolis of Almaty, roughly 1,200km away from the capital, on account of renovations on their common residence stadium. Consequently, Chelsea will make the eight-hour flight on to Almaty, taking a route that avoids travelling via Ukraine, Russia and the Center East on account of conflicts in these areas.
The rationale the match is being performed at 15:30 is as a result of time zone in Kazakhstan being 5 hours forward of the UK, which means the match will likely be performed at 20:30 native time. The identical slot was used for Portuguese facet Vitoria de Guimaraes’ latest journey to in the identical competitors.
The circumstances will likely be powerful for Chelsea, too. The temperature is more likely to vary from -6 to -11 levels throughout Thursday’s encounter, making present British climate look decidedly toasty.
Maresca is predicted to make wholesale modifications to his beginning lineup and most of the membership’s first-teamers will not even make the journey. A number of fringe and academy gamers will likely be known as upon as Chelsea search for a fifth straight league part victory.
Chelsea return to home motion on Sunday after they face fellow west London outfit Brentford within the Premier League. Nonetheless, the match will likely be affected by Convention League commitments.
As an alternative of taking part in within the afternoon on Sunday as is customary for individuals who have been in Europa League or Convention League motion, Chelsea will host the Bees at 19:00 GMT as a substitute, permitting them additional restoration time following their travels to and from what is basically central Asia.