2024-08-23 03:55:02
Chelsea, England’s second most successful club in European football with eight trophies, are back in continental competition after a one-year hiatus.
To reach the Conference League proper, though, Chelsea must beat Servette of Switzerland over the next two Thursdays, starting at Stamford Bridge tonight (8pm UK time).
It’s only the third time the Blues have faced a showdown of this kind under UEFA rules. Both previous instances were in the Champions League – and navigated without fuss.
Visitors Servette, who lost a Europa League play-off with Braga 2-1 on aggregate last Thursday, could earn the unhappy distinction of exiting two UEFA competitions in as many weeks.
In their best ever European campaign, the Genevese bowed out at the quarter-final stage of the 1978/79 Cup Winners’ Cup. They last faced English opponents 50 years ago, losing 6-2 on aggregate to Derby County.
The Swiss Super League is already well underway and the Maroons lie in mid-table under former Estonia coach Thomas Haberli.
Chelsea – who yesterday welcomed back versatile attacker Joao Felix – have won ten and drawn three of our past 15 matches at the Bridge in Europe, losing the other two to Real Madrid.
The draw for the six-match, 36-team league phase of this competition will take place after the second leg on Friday 30 August.
The Conference League final is scheduled for 28 May 2025 at the 40,000-capacity Stadion Wrocław in Poland, the winners earning a place in the following season’s Europa League.
After Sunday’s home league defeat by Manchester City, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca takes charge in Europe for the first time tonight.
Maresca was a key member of the coaching staff that steered City to Champions League success in 2022/23 but now holds the reins himself.
Our new signings and late-returning internationals will be that bit closer to full match-readiness, though the Blues will be without a couple of defenders.
Reece James is still unavailable, while Maresca has said he will rest Wesley Fofana.
The PFA’s freshly-crowned Young Player of the Year Cole Palmer needs minutes after returning to pre-season later than most of the squad and may retain his place tonight.
It is too soon for Joao Felix to be involved but Pedro Neto is ready for action, and Renato Veiga could start against a side he faced last season as the Blues target a healthy advantage for next week’s decider in Geneva.
Servette have never previously played at Stamford Bridge.
The only meetings between Chelsea and the Maroons came in the decade following the Second World War, both in Geneva.
The first came on 30 May 1946 as part of a post-season tour of Switzerland. Chelsea ran out 2-0 winners thanks to England forward Len Goulden and an own goal.
The second took place in January 1954, Ted Drake’s side playing back-to-back matches in Switzerland over an FA Cup weekend – having already bowed out of the domestic trophy hunt. Our Maroon hosts won that meeting by a single goal.
Competitively, the Blues have faced Swiss opponents in six European contests, against Basel (two wins, two defeats) and St Gallen (one win, one defeat).
Chelsea (ranked 9th overall) have a UEFA coefficient of 79.00 going into the 2024/25 season, far higher than any club left in this competition.
The next highest-ranked Conference League clubs are Fiorentina (42.00) – where Maresca was a midfielder – and Real Betis (33.00).
Servette stand 139th (130 places below Chelsea) in UEFA’s rankings and have a coefficient of 9.00.
Chelsea have faced play-off ties twice previously, both wins in the Champions League: 1999/00, a 3-0 aggregate win against Skonto Riga, and 2003/04, a 5-0 aggregate defeat of MSK Zilina.
In 2013, the Blues became the first Premier League club to win all three major UEFA trophies available at that time. We are the only club in Europe to have won all four UEFA trophies – if you include the UEFA Super Cup – twice.
The current West Stand at Stamford Bridge opened for the first time (lower tier only) for the 1-1 draw with Newcastle on this day in 1998.
Champions League 2012, 2021
Europa League 2013, 2019
Cup Winners’ Cup 1971, 1998
Super Cup 1998, 2021
Club World Cup 2022
All Conference League matches will have the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, beginning at this stage.
Should we reach the league phase, matches against six different opponents will take place between October and mid-December, guaranteeing a host of Thursday/Sunday (or possibly Monday) games.
Each club will play six different opponents – three at home, three away – and the eight highest-placed teams progress to the knockout stage.
Winning the Conference League would mean the Blues – already the only London outfit among UEFA’s elite clubs – have won more of Europe’s individual competitions than any English rival.
31 seasons in European competition
297 matches
160 wins
76 draws
61 defeats
527 goals for
272 goals against
+255 goal difference
15 semi-finals
12 finals
8 trophies
You can watch today’s game live on the Chelsea website and Chelsea app by clicking above!
For supporters attending the Bridge, a new Chelsea FC Matchday Information WhatsApp channel has been launched to enhance your match-going experience. Click here for more information and to sign up.
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