Chelsea are facing renewed fixture problems in the Europa Conference League after their league phase clash against Astana has been moved over 700 miles away.

The Blues were scheduled to fly to Kazakhstan in December for the third-tier European competition clash, but will now be travelling to a different location closer to the China border.

Stadium renovation work at the 30,000-seater Astana stadium has forced the venue change which means the Blues will instead be playing on the other side of Kazakhstan.

Enzo Maresca's side will make the long-haul trip to the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion in Almaty on the Kyrgyzstan border instead, which is just 250 miles from China.

The changed venue will require Chelsea's players to embark on a flight lasting over eight hours, with supportive Blues fans wanting to travel for the game facing expensive costs.

Freezing cold temperatures across Kazakhstan regularly sees the mercury drop below -5 degrees during December and to make matters worse is the fact that the stadium Chelsea will be playing at doesn't have a roof.

That means players, coaching staff and supporters will be subjected to extreme winter weather conditions throughout the game, with heavy snow and ice a possibility.

The multi-purpose stadium also features a running track that circles the pitch and operates as Kazakhstan's national football ground.

Chelsea will kick-start their Europa Conference League campaign at Stamford Bridge against Gent on October 3.

They will then jet off to Athens, Greece to play Panathinaikos before returning to London where they will host Armenian FC Noah.

A trip to German team Heidenheim will prelude Chelsea's journey to Kazakhstan before the Blues complete their initial Conference League fixtures against Shamrock Rovers.

Cole Palmer is amongst the Blues players that won't have to make the arduous European trips after being omitted from Chelsea's initial Europa Conference League squad. 

Renovation work on the impressive Astana Arena – which has a capacity of 30,000, a retractable roof and undersoil heating – has resulted in Astana playing their home fixtures elsewhere this season.

They played their Conference League qualifying home matches against Milsami, Corvinul, and Brann at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion – and that is where Astana will host Chelsea on Thursday 12 December.

That fixture will be the Blues’ final away trip of the league phase, which is now a single 36-team stage in which each side plays six fixtures (three home, three away).

At the end of the league phase, the top eight clubs advance directly to the round of 16. Sides that finish from ninth to 24th then contest the knockout round play-offs to earn their spot among the final 16.

Ticket information for our away fixtures in this season’s UEFA Conference League will follow in due course.

Chelsea's Europa Conference League Group Stage Fixtures

Thursday, 3 October Chelsea vs Gent Kick-off: 8pm Venue: Stamford Bridge

Thursday, 24 October Panathinaikos vs Chelsea Kick-off: 5.45pm Venue: Athens Olympic Stadium

Thursday, 7 November Chelsea vs FC Noah Kick-off: 8pm Venue: Stamford Bridge

Thursday, 28 November Heidenheim vs Chelsea Kick-off: 5.45pm Venue: FC Heidenheim Voith-Arena

Thursday, 12 December FC Astana vs Chelsea Kick-off: 3.30pm Venue: Almaty Ortalyk Stadion

Thursday, 19 December Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers Kick-off: 8pm Venue: Stamford Bridge

All kick-off times are presented in UK time.

Chelsea's Europa Conference League group stage match against Astana has been moved over 770 miles away from the original location.

The Blues were set to face the Kazakhstan Premier League side at the Astana Arena.

But due to ongoing renovation work at the 30,000-seater stadium, the fixture has been moved to the other side of the massive country.

It will now be played at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion in Almaty - on the Kyrgyzstan border and only 250 miles from China.

And, to make matters worse for the Blues, it is also set to take place in December, meaning temperatures will likely drop below freezing.

The host stadium does not have a roof, so fans will face wintry conditions.

Generally, temperatures in Almaty, Kazakhstan, range from 2°C to -7°C in December.

And, ironically, Cole Palmer - who goes by the nickname 'Cold Palmer' based on his goal celebration - will not be able to play.

The 22-year-old was left out of Chelsea's Conference League squad last week.

Injury-jinxed midfielder Romeo Lavia and defender Wesley Fofana were also left out of the 27-strong group for the competition.

Enzo Maresca made the decision to balance the work load of some young players.

Palmer was a key member of the first team squad last season and played 3,734 minutes of football in total.

So far this season the midfielder has scored once and provided four assists in five games.

Chelsea will face Gent, Heidenheim, Shamrock Rovers, Panathinaikos and Noah in their remaining Conference League group stage games.

Chelsea have been handed a nightmare they could probably do without for their UEFA Conference League campaign after one of their games was moved hundreds of miles away from its original venue.

Enzo Maresca's side have had an indifferent start to their Premier League season with a win, a draw and a defeat so far placing them 11th in the table, and are back in action on Saturday evening away to Bournemouth.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have already begun their European campaign, having beaten Swiss side Servette in their Conference League play-off to reach the competition's main phase.

Chelsea had been due to play in the Europa League thanks to their sixth-placed finish last season, only to be demoted to the Conference League when eighth-placed Manchester United won the FA Cup.

Chelsea begin the league stage at the start of October when they host Belgian side Gent at Stamford Bridge, before travelling to Greece to take on Panathinaikos later that month.

Armenian team Noah travel to take on Chelsea in early November, before the Blues travel to Germany towards the end of the month to take on Heidenheim.

Chelsea's final Conference League game in the competition's first main phase is at Stamford Bridge when they host Shamrock Rovers in the week before Christmas.

However, it is their penultimate league-stage fixture in December which has recently been subject to a fixture change and could present issues for Maresca's men for a few good reasons.

Chelsea will travel to Kazakhstan for a clash against Astana on Thursday, December 12 and had been due to play the game at the club's Astana Arena.

However, the Sun reports that renovation work is taking place at the ground and it means the game will now take place hundreds of miles away on the other side of the nation.

The Almaty Ortalyk Stadion in Almaty will now host the encounter, which is on the border with Kyrgyzstan and is around 250 miles away from China.

Given that the game will be taking place in mid-December, it will be winter and raises the prospect that the game could be played in sub-zero temperatures, with thermometers said to be showing between two and minus seven degrees celsius at that particular time of the year.

Chelsea are currently due to be playing Brentford at Stamford Bridge at 3pm on Saturday, December 14, but that game will almost certainly be moved as a result, as is common with European matches which take place on Thursdays.

But any Chelsea fans heading out to Kazakhstan will probably need to pack their big coat and thermals, it's safe to say.