Chelsea navigated a challenging match, ultimately securing a 2-0 advantage to take into the second leg in Switzerland next week. The team started strong, with Marc Guiu nearly scoring early on, but he lost his chance after maneuvering around the goalkeeper. As the game progressed, Chelsea’s initial momentum faded, though their defense, led by Filip Jörgensen in goal, remained generally solid despite a few tense moments with set pieces.
In the second half, Chelsea regained their footing and struck first with Christopher Nkunku winning and converting a penalty. However, Guiu missed a glaring opportunity to extend the lead after intercepting the goalkeeper, which seemed to deflate both him and the team.
A series of substitutions by coach Maresca did not revitalize Chelsea’s performance and seemed to contribute to a decline in focus. But Noni Madueke took charge, scoring the crucial second goal just before the game entered its closing minutes.
Despite a few nervous moments at the back, including Servette hitting the crossbar and Jörgensen making a key save in the dying moments, Chelsea held on for the win.
With the victory, Chelsea will look to finish the job next week in the second leg. The match also featured significant player rotations from Maresca, with only Moisés Caicedo and Nkunku starting again from the weekend.
The team managed to maintain a clean sheet, with Caicedo donning the captain’s armband before being substituted in the final minutes. The upcoming fixtures include an away match against Wolves on Sunday, followed by the second leg on Thursday.