Grapevine

Chelsea vs Servette: Key facts ahead of Conference League clash

This is only the third time Chelsea has faced such a play-off under UEFA rules, with previous encounters in the Champions League, both successfully navigated.

Visitors Servette, who recently lost a Europa League play-off to Braga 2-1 on aggregate, risk being eliminated from two UEFA competitions within weeks.

Servette’s best-ever European run saw them reach the quarter-finals of the 1978/79 Cup Winners’ Cup. Their last meeting with an English side was 50 years ago, losing 6-2 on aggregate to Derby County.

Chelsea, who welcomed back attacker Joao Felix on Wednesday, have a strong home record in Europe, winning 10 and drawing three of their last 15 matches at Stamford Bridge, with only two defeats to Real Madrid.

The Chelsea vs Servette match also marks Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca’s debut in European competition.