As the English Premier League season heats up, Chelsea finds itself thrust into European competition early, taking on Servette in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff at Stamford Bridge on August 22nd.
With Chelsea currently struggling in the league, sitting at 17th with no points, and Servette enjoying a solid start in the Swiss Super League, this match promises to be an intriguing clash of ambitions.
Match Preview
Chelsea enters this match on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Manchester City, marking a challenging start to the season for new manager Enzo Maresca.
The team has struggled in its last four outings, including losses to both Manchester City and Real Madrid in preseason, as well as a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan.
This match against Servette marks Chelsea’s first foray into the Europa Conference League, having last competed in Europe at the Champions League level, where they were eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.
In contrast, Servette arrives at Stamford Bridge buoyed by a remarkable 7-1 victory over Signal in the Schweizer Pokal first round.
This dominant performance was a much-needed boost for Servette, who had been struggling with two consecutive losses in the Swiss Super League, including a heavy 6-0 defeat to Basel.
Despite these setbacks, Servette’s ability to score decisively in the cup indicates they could pose a challenge to Chelsea if they can replicate that form.
Head to Head
This encounter will be the first competitive meeting between Chelsea and Servette.
Chelsea’s experience in European competitions is vast, but Servette’s recent form in the Europa Conference League sees them arriving with some confidence.
Statistics indicate that Servette has remained competitive, having gone undefeated in four of their last five Europa Conference League matches, although they’ve struggled on the road.
Team News
Chelsea will be without captain Reece James due to injury, and there are doubts regarding Marc Cucurella’s fitness ahead of the match.
New signings Filip Jorgensen, Renato Veiga, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pedro Neto, and Marc Guiu could feature in the starting lineup.
However, the squad will miss the contributions of Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, and Raheem Sterling due to various reasons.
For Servette, manager Alain Geiger made several changes to the starting XI for the cup match against Signal, meaning key players like Steve Rouiller, David Douline, Gael Ondoua, Alexis Antunes, and Enzo Crivelli are expected to return to the lineup for this crucial fixture.
Prediction
While Chelsea is currently in a rebuilding phase and facing early adversity, the disparity in quality and experience should play a significant role in this match.
We predict that Chelsea will emerge victorious with a comfortable scoreline, capitalizing on their home advantage.
- Score Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Servette
Betting Tips
Chelsea to Win: Betting on a Chelsea victory is advisable given their historical strength at home and the quality of their squad.
Over 2.5 Goals: Considering Chelsea’s attacking potential and Servette’s recent high-scoring performance, wagering on over 2.5 goals is a promising option.
Chelsea to Win to Nil: Given the struggles Servette has faced in recent tough matches, placing a bet on Chelsea to win without conceding could yield positive returns.
Enzo Crivelli to Score Anytime: With Servette needing to take chances, betting on Crivelli, who is likely to lead the attack, to score at any time might be a worthwhile consideration.
