Chelsea faced a challenging match, especially during the first half, but they managed to secure a 2-0 lead heading into the second leg of their contest in Switzerland next week.
The game began with Chelsea showing great promise, with Marc Guiu coming close to scoring early on. However, he lost his opportunity after maneuvering around the goalkeeper. As the match progressed, the visitors began to find their rhythm, although Chelsea’s defense, led by Filip Jörgensen, maintained a solid performance despite some nervous moments during set pieces and long throws. Chelsea had their share of chances but struggled with execution.
The second half started strongly for Chelsea, who quickly took the lead when Christopher Nkunku won and converted a penalty. Subsequently, Guiu missed a glaring opportunity to extend their lead after he effectively pressured the goalkeeper. This miss shifted the momentum back toward a first-half performance that lacked clarity.
Maresca’s triple substitution did not significantly impact the team’s performance, leading to sloppiness on the pitch. Yet, Noni Madueke stepped up, scoring a crucial second goal as the game approached the last quarter hour.
Chelsea managed to maintain their two-goal advantage, though they faced a few tense moments at the back. Servette struck the crossbar and wasted several opportunities while Jörgensen made a vital save just before the final whistle.
The match concluded with a 2-0 victory, leaving Chelsea with one task left to secure progress next week.
The team saw several changes in the lineup, with only Caicedo and Nkunku starting again from the previous weekend.
Caicedo served as captain but passed the armband back to Enzo in the closing moments after being substituted. The match also featured a clean sheet for Chelsea.
Looking ahead, Chelsea will play Wolves away on Sunday before facing Servette again on Thursday for the second leg.