On Thursday, 24 October, Panathinaikos will welcome Chelsea to the Athens Olympic Stadium in Greece for the second round of fixtures in this season's Europa Conference League campaign.
The Blues' opening day game was against Gent, in which they were 4-2 victors. However, this is the club's first-way trip in the competition, and travelling supporters are likely to encounter a fierce atmosphere.
This article will serve as a full matchday guide for all Chelsea fans in Athens on 24 October.
How many Chelsea fans are going to Athens?
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Thanks to the truly massive size of the Athens Olympic Stadium – it has a capacity of approximately 75,000 – Chelsea were handed an away ticket allocation of 3,310 for this fixture. With the club selling their entire allocation, expect that to be the minimum number of Chelsea fans in Athens come matchday.
However, the combination of Athens still offering far better weather than England at this time of year and being a truly beautiful city will likely mean that thousands more Blues supporters will be making the journey to Greece to soak up the atmosphere in the various pubs and bars in the local area.
Where will Chelsea fans sit at the Athens Olympic Stadium?
Ticket news: Panathinaikos away https://t.co/EoL57UARU5 @ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/tMWm6Z3lvi
— Chelsea Supporters Group ⭐️⭐️ (@CSG2005) September 19, 2024
Travelling Chelsea fans with a matchday ticket will be seated in the South-west corner of the ground in section 6, although if demand requires it, section 5 may also be opened up to away supporters too. This will give the Blues' away contingency an excellent chance to use their numbers in order to make plenty of noise in that area.
Panathinaikos' home crowd are famous for being extremely passionate and creating a hostile atmosphere that can intimidate away fans – expect the same welcome upon your visit too.
Full fans’ matchday guide for Panathinaikos vs Chelsea
Where to eat & drink for Chelsea fans in Athens
For safety reasons, drinking in the city centre rather than in the areas immediately surrounding the stadium is advised—which is the case for virtually every away day.
Thankfully, this shouldn't mean your options are limited too much, with plenty of venues dotted throughout the city. Our top three suggestions are:
- Athens Sports Bar, Veikou 3a, Athens 117 42, Greece
- The James Joyce Irish Pub, Astiggos 12, Athens 105 55, Greece
- Red Lion Pub, 116 34, Niriidon 16, Athina 116 34, Greece
All three establishments are located in the city centre and are approximately an hour from the Athens Olympic Stadium via public transport.
It may also be worth visiting the Monastiraki flea market area, which is home to an array of bars and restaurants and is often frequented by away fans on matchdays.
How to get to Athens Olympic Stadium: A Guide for Chelsea fans in Athens
6 – Chelsea have never faced any of their six UEFA Conference League league phase opponents before: Gent, 1. FC Heidenheim, Astana, Shamrock Rovers, Panathinaikos, or Noah. Conference. pic.twitter.com/54PI3EDwQb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 30, 2024
Unfortunately, the Athens Olympic Stadium is located almost six miles away from the city centre, so, unless you fancy a two-hour walk, travelling to the ground on foot is not an option.
That, therefore, means that most travelling Chelsea fans will turn to public transport, which in most cases, should take around an hour. If doing so, you will want to hop on the Green Metro Line that runs from most metro stations in Athens and head towards the ‘Eirini' stop, which is the closest to the ground.
Failing that, the quickest, albeit the most expensive, option is to catch a taxi from the city centre up to the stadium, but this could be pricey – especially on matchday.