Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Conference League match.
Chelsea, as expected from such a club, are leading the Europa Conference League, while Astana are barely holding on to a playoff spot. The Kazakh side will host the English team in Almaty, where even at night, temperatures will dip to -10 ºC, much like in Astana. Could the weather play to the hosts' advantage?
Astana
Weather conditions are undeniably their advantage, but since the previous Europa Conference League round on 28 November, Astana have not played a single match, whereas Chelsea have played three times. This is due to the conclusion of the Kazakh league, leaving them without match practice. While they might be rested, the lengthy break could be a drawback, especially since Astana tend to lose winning positions; in their fourth-round game against Vitória Guimarães (also at home), they conceded a late equaliser in the 89th minute (1:1).
Chelsea
Chelsea, on the other hand, miss no opportunities—punishing even top-level teams. In the latest Premier League round, Tottenham Hotspur succumbed to their pressure at home (4:3), and the week prior, it was Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge (3:0). Then there was the emphatic 5:1 thrashing of Southampton.
Astana vs Chelsea Prediction
Even without their playmaker and leader Cole Palmer, who isn't registered for the UEFA Europa Conference League, Chelsea are expected to secure all three points and maintain their lead in the table without dropping any. While the weather may indeed pose a challenge, winning by at least two goals is well within the visitors' capabilities.
