Chelsea secured their spot in the Europa Conference League group stage after a tense night in Geneva on August 30, 2024. The final score was Servette 2, Chelsea 1, with Chelsea advancing on aggregate with a 3-2 scoreline.
It was a nerve-wracking match, even though Chelsea seemed to have a comfortable lead from the first leg. Christopher Nkunku gave Chelsea an early advantage with a penalty just 14 minutes into the game, mirroring his performance in the first leg and initially making things look straightforward for Chelsea.
However, Servette’s Jeremy Guillemenot equalized just before halftime, catching Chelsea off guard. The tension increased when Servette’s Enzo Crivelli scored a header in the 72nd minute, putting them ahead for the night. Chelsea had their chances but struggled to secure a more decisive result, finding themselves under pressure until the final whistle.
Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, fielded a significantly rotated squad in Switzerland. Only three players from their big win against Wolves—Noni Madueke, Enzo Fernandez, and Mykhailo Mudryk—retained their spots. This rotation was an attempt to balance their large squad and manage player fatigue.
Chelsea nearly scored a second goal early on when Fernandez unleashed a powerful shot, but Servette’s goalkeeper, Joel Mall, made a strong save. Mudryk, who had struggled in the Premier League, played a key role in Chelsea’s first goal by winning a penalty after Servette’s Keigo Tsunemoto fouled him.
Although Chelsea had dominated early on, Servette began to press more as the game progressed. Dereck Kutesa exploited a mistake by Marc Guiu and set up Guillemenot’s goal, which energized the hosts and put Chelsea on the back foot.
In the second half, Chelsea’s attempts to regain control included a spectacular but missed overhead kick by Nkunku and a close chance by Guiu, which was cleared by Servette’s defense. Servette continued to pressure, with Crivelli’s header putting them ahead, but Chelsea’s attempts to respond included a disallowed goal by Nicholas Jackson and a shot that hit the crossbar by Cole Palmer.
In the end, Chelsea’s progression to the group stage of the Europa Conference League came down to a mix of relief and frustration. They’ll need to regroup and refine their performance as they prepare for the next phase of the tournament.
