After two games without a win, Chelsea will expect to get three points in this encounter, even if extensive rotation is employed by manager Enzo Maresca.

The Blues showed the strength in depth they have in their squad as they overcame Gent 4-2 in their previous Conference League clash, with their team boasting numerous high-class international players such as Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku who are pushing to make their way into Maresca’s plans for the bigger matches. There is no little motivation for success despite the nature of the competition.

Chelsea’s form overall is strong. In four of their last five matches in the Premier League and Conference League, they have generated 1.9xG or more, while defensively they have never given up more than 1.1xGA during this time.

Pana have had a relatively disappointing start to the season. Although they have lost only one of their last eight matches, four of these have ended drawn, and the general standard of opponent has been well below the one they will face here.

Chelsea’s European matches to date this season have been entertaining affairs, characterised by goals at either end of the field. Not only have they lost 2-1 at Servette, they also overcame Gent 4-2 in their previous outing. Each fixture they have played has produced at least a couple of goals.

Similarly, Panathinaikos’ European campaign has seen a string of entertaining matches that have been more open than those they have produced at times domestically. Five of the seven they have played have produced at least two goals.

Chelsea’s players have an incentive to impress in this game. These are a group of players who are being largely overlooked domestically, so a strong performance here could fast track them back into the first team. Goals will naturally help their cause, so look for them to be as hungry in front of goal as they were in their previous fixture against Gent.

Maresca is a coach who wants his side to play attacking football. At least two goals have been scored in 11 of their 12 competitive fixtures, an in the exception – a 1-0 loss against Bournemouth – there was a total of 2.5xG.

Dewsbury-Hall stands seventh in the list of Chelsea players who have taken the most shots in all competitions this season with eight, yet he stands third among Blues players who have featured for more than 90 minutes in terms of shots per 90 with 3.2. Only Noni Madueke (3.77) and Cole Palmer (3.55) have tried their luck more frequently.

Has come to the fore in the last couple of games that he has started, with four efforts and one on target against both Barrow and Gent.

With opportunities set to be limited for the former Leicester player, this is the type of match that he will need to stand out in.

He has completed the full 90 minutes in the four competitive games he has started this season, including all of Chelsea’s three European fixtures. This suggests that he will go the duration in this game.

Anastasios Bakasetas is set to play a very significant role in Panathinaikos’ attacking play in this game because Fotis Ioannidis is missing due to a foot injury and Andraz Sporar has been a doubt because of illness. He will take up a disproportionate amount of the offensive burden.

Does enjoy being at the centre of things in big games, as was highlighted during his performances in the last international break. He had five shots against Ireland, including one goal, while he also had three efforts against England.

During Pana’s previous Conference League match, he had five efforts at goal, with one hitting the target – a tally that characterises his side’s typically high shot count but poor record of hitting the target.

Chelsea have dominated their previous Europa League fixtures this season, commanding at least 59% of the ball in each of these games, and they will expect Thursday’s clash to be little different in this regard.

Have successfully translated this control of the game into shots. They managed seven in both legs against Servette, and while they only hit the target five times against Gent in the previous round, this was because they were unusually inaccurate. They had 20 efforts at goal in total and fell well short of their season average 39.1% shots on target across all competitions.

Have had at least seven shots on target in half of their 12 competitive fixtures – hitting this figure against weak opponents such as Wolves and Crystal Palace. Panathinaikos should fall into this type of bracket.

Panathinaikos conceded 14 shots on target against Lens in their two matches against the French club, who are weaker on paper than even a fringe Chelsea team. They gave up six shots on the road then eight at home.

Chelsea’s domination in European fixtures has also been characterised by the Blues winning a huge corner count, meaning that they should comfortably pick up five of these situations against Panathinaikos.

The Blues have managed 20 corners across their three European games to date, averaging 6.67 per match.

In their previous European away match against Servette, they were able to pick up six corners, which is just below their average figure in this regard.

Have won at least five corners in each of their last six matches in all competitions, but the type of fringe side that is likely to face Pana has typically been hitting high figures.

Panathinaikos gave up six corners in their previous match against Borac Banja Luka, while they also gave up that same figure as they beat Lens 2-0 at home back in August in this competition.

Christopher Nkunku is waiting on a breakout performance to really kickstart his Chelsea career and will be eager for it to come in Greece. He is gradually building fitness after injury and will expect to get stronger and more dangerous with every match.

The Frenchman already leads Chelsea in terms of shots on target per 90 minutes across all competitions with 2.12. This includes all players who have featured for at least 45 minutes this term.

He has had two or more shots on target in two of his last three starts for Chelsea, including the previous European away match against Servette.

Will expect to be given the vast majority of this game to impress. A player who needs playing time to gain sharpness, he has featured for at least 75 minutes of the last three matches he has started, suggesting he is ready to go the distance if need be.

Panathinaikos’ matches this season are producing a huge number of cards, with five in this match looking a very attainable figure as a result.

Pana have received at least three cards themselves in four of their last six matches in all competitions while half a dozen of their last seven matches have produced at least five cards (all yellows).

European matches have followed this trend of having a high card count. Five of their seven fixtures that they have played on the continent – both Champions League qualifying, Conference League qualifying and group stages – have produced at least five cards. One of the others yielded four.

Chelsea’s only previous away game in Europe this season saw six cards, although both their home fixtures were rather more subdued in this regard, with three cards across two games. Panathinaikos, though, have a habit of bringing out the worst in their opponents.