Chelsea is set to travel to the southern shores of Lake Geneva for the crucial second leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifying tie. Club historian Rick Glanvill and statistician Paul Dutton provide insights ahead of the match in Switzerland.
The Blues secured a solid 2-0 victory in the first leg and must avoid a loss by two or more goals to progress in the tournament.
This marks Chelsea’s fourth competitive trip to Switzerland, where they have managed one win (against Basel in April 2013) and suffered two losses (to St Gallen in September 2000 and Basel in November 2013).
Additionally, it is Chelsea’s sixth UEFA playoff match since 1999, with the team yet to concede in any playoff matches, whether at home or away, during this period which has included previous Champions League ties.
Chelsea enters the match with renewed confidence following a 6-2 league triumph against Wolverhampton, their highest score at Molineux. Notably, prior to this victory, no incoming Premier League coach had won their first away trip while registering six goals.
Coach Enzo Maresca is enjoying consecutive wins in all competitions but remains wary of players’ carelessness on the ball, a concern he noted during last Thursday’s game.
Swiss Cup winners Servette, who have enjoyed a week of rest in preparation for the sold-out match at Stade de Genève, were humiliated 6-0 by Super League rivals Basel in their last outing.
Chelsea aims to secure a top seed in Friday’s league phase draw, which utilizes an algorithm to randomly select opponents from six pots, based on UEFA rankings.
In terms of team news, Maresca’s preferred attacking style was evident in the match against Wolves, showcasing quick passes and scoring efficiency, resulting in 14 shots, eight of which were on target.
While Maresca focuses on improving defensive transitions and set-piece strategies, he reassures fans that complacency will not jeopardize their European progression, despite potential changes to the lineup.
PFA Young Player of the Year Cole Palmer has thrived under Maresca’s tactics, echoing past performances of players like Cesc Fabregas, who previously had three assists in a league game.
Noni Madueke, the team’s leading scorer, is on a good run following his goal in the first leg, and is proving difficult for defenders to handle.
Joao Felix, who scored in the first leg, is not available for this match as he joined too late to be included in the squad, along with rested player Pedro Neto.
Moises Caicedo appears fit following a tough tackle but, with Romeo Lavia out and Enzo Fernandez potentially shifting to a deeper role, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall may feature tonight.
Marc Guiu, who had opportunities in the first leg without scoring, could return to the starting lineup, while goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen may keep his place after a clean sheet in London.
Historically, this is Chelsea’s first competitive match in Geneva despite having played Servette twice in friendlies.
In the first leg, Chelsea won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, despite the Swiss side creating several chances.
This will be Chelsea’s third away match in a European playoff context, having previously qualified with a 0-0 draw at Skonto Riga and a 2-0 win at Zilina.
Should Chelsea progress, their first league phase match will mark their 300th European match across six competitions.
Since its inception in 2020/21, the Conference League has seen three champions: Roma, West Ham, and current titleholders Olympiacos.
Chelsea’s recent win was their largest since a 6-0 win over Southampton in April 2022 and marked 17 years since Wolverhampton conceded six goals. Joao Felix became the 14th player in club history to score on their second debut.
Madueke’s first hat-trick for the club was achieved in just under 14 minutes, and Chelsea now boasts 23 distinct hat-trick scorers in the Premier League, more than any rival. Palmer is only the fifth player to assist a teammate on all goals in a Premier League hat-trick, and the third to do so away from home.