💰 Punt: Chelsea Over 18.5 Shots & Chelsea Over 26.5 Shots
📗 Bookie: Bet365
🎲 Odds: 2.00 (1/1) & 8.50 (15/2)
⚽️ Game: FC Astana vs. Chelsea

FC Astana are conceding a lot of shots to their opponents so far in their UEFA Conference League outings. It doesn’t get any easier for the Kazakhstan Premier League 2023 runners-up either. This is my wiiiife. They face Chelsea in today’s early European action as Enzo Maresca’s men make the long journey to the freezing cold Almaty where temperatures are expected to be around -7.

• TSC (H) - 24 shots conceded, 14 Astana goal-kicks

• TNS (A) - 15 shots conceded, 5 Astana goal-kicks

• Pafos (A) - 32 shots conceded, 18 Astana goal-kicks

• Vitoria (H) - 34 shots conceded, 16 Astana goal-kicks

Chelsea are expected to heavily rotate even from their usual ‘B’ team. More likely a C Team. That will still have a squad value of about 200 million quid.

Travelling Chelsea squad:

• Goalkeepers: Filip Jorgensen, Lucas Bergstrom, Max Merrick

• Defenders: Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, Josh Acheampoing, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Richard Olise, Kaiden Wilson

• Midfielders: Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Kiano Dyer, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Harvey Vale

• Forwards: Pedro Neto, Ato Ampah, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Shumaira Mheuka

Despite the amount of rotation and youngsters playing, I think Chelsea could have a fair amount of shots if they aren’t too afraid of the cold!

Bet365 are priced at 2.00 (1/1) for Chelsea to have Over 19.5 shots. It’s more than feasible that they can get close to the higher shot total of Over 26.5 shots which is priced at 8.50 (15/2) as well. I wouldn’t be overly surprised if this line actually dropped when Chelsea’s starting XI is announced as the 1X2 odds may see a fair bit of movement. In terms of player shots, the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Guiu should start. Guiu had 6 shots vs Bundesliga side Heidenheim in Chelsea’s last European game, Spaniard striker Guiu is 9.00 (8/1) to repeat the feat in Kazakhstan. Renato Veiga also doesn’t mind a pop from range as well as being a threat from set-pieces. He’s 4.00 (3/1) to have 2 shots or 11.00 (10/1) to have 3 efforts on goal.

A couple of longer odds shots if the above isn’t your cup of tea:

• Over 20.5 Shots for Chelsea & Over 13.5 Goal Kicks for FC Astana (11/2) - this bet has won for Astana’s opponents in 3 of their 4 UECL games.

• Over 22.5 Shots for Chelsea & Over 15.5 Goal Kicks for FC Astana (14/1) - this bet has won for Astana’s opponents in 2 of their 4 UECL games

• Over 26.5 Shots for Chelsea & Over 18.5 Goal Kicks for FC Astana (50/1) - this bet has yet to win for an opponent of FC Astana in European competition this season, however it did fall 1 goal-kick short in their trip to FC Pafos.