Joao Felix passes Chelsea audition as Enzo Maresca's £240m attack sends message

JOAO FELIX led the charge as Enzo Maresca’s second-choice frontline staked a convincing claim for increased opportunities in the games that really matter.

This was, in theory, ’s most difficult fixture of the Conference League league phase - a reflection on this bloated third-tier competition’s absence of quality.

But Maresca’s fringe cast looked hungry to impress with a smooth and clinical performance once Felix put them in front after 23 minutes.

Mykhailo Mudryk scored one and assisted Felix’s pair, while Christopher Nkunku struck from the penalty spot despite having a laser pointed at his eyes and Pedro Neto provided a splendid assist.

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Then again, when that front four cost £240m should playing a Greek team with their key men rested be anything other than comfortable?

Panathinaikos marked their first home game since the tragic death of George Baldock with an emotional pre-match tribute.

And the decision of head coach Diego Alonso to bench several stars with one eye on their league fixture against Aris on Sunday helped Chelsea greatly.

Their opening goal was both simple and ruthless.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, another £30m signing, found Felix with a long pass forward that he smartly headed into space on the left for Mudryk to gather.

The Portuguese gladly received a smooth return pass from the winger before finishing from seven yards.

Chelsea had weathered an early storm with Tin Vedjav’s header bringing a stunning save from Filip Jorgensen inside two minutes and Axel Disasi enduring some mildly tricky moments at right back.

But the away team’s sense of comfort grew as the half progressed and Enzo Fernandez was close to scoring a second after more good work from Mudryk.

Defensively there were few scares to absorb once in front and when Neto provided a pinpoint delivery from the right for Mudryk to head home, the result was beyond doubt.

Felix’s second was heavily deflected off Nemanja Maksimovic but Mudryk again did well to provide an assist after controlling a deep cross.

And Nkunku then drilled home from 12 yards after Filip Mladenovic was penalised for handball - even if the France striker was visibly irritated by a green light being beamed from the home fans.

The only blemish came when former winger Facundo Pellistri, getting in behind Disasi, tapped in a cross from Georgios Vagiannidis to ruin Jorgensen’s clean sheet.

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