A successful trip to Almaty to face Astana (3:1) last week secured Chelsea a place in the play-offs of the European tournaments. The English side were the first to guarantee their spot in the next stage, and a win against Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge will further cement their status as leaders of the group stage.
Chelsea's brilliant form—seven consecutive victories across all competitions and no defeats since 30 October—can be attributed largely to effective squad management. Enzo Maresca has made full use of Chelsea's deep roster, which essentially contains three squads. Against Astana the London side netted all three goals before half-time, compiling 1.19 xG from 23 shots over 90 minutes. In the Europa Conference League, Chelsea have scored a total of 21 goals—the highest tally in the competition by a clear margin.
Shamrock Rovers benefited from a favourable draw in the European schedule—out of the current top 16, they've faced only two teams. Their win over Borac Banja Luka (3:0) elevated them to sixth place, an unprecedented achievement for Irish football. Their squad consists of just three foreign players, and their top scorer Johnny Kenny (5+1 in the Conference League) is valued at under 500,000 euros—suggesting their success may be fleeting.
Chelsea's stellar attack is set to dismantle Shamrock Rovers' defence, who have played only three official matches in the past month and a half. The Irish side are certainly struggling with match fitness and will not withstand the level of competition in London.
