Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Conference League match.
On Sunday, Chelsea put up a fight against Manchester City in the first round of the Premier League, but still failed to secure any points (0:2). Enzo Maresca's debut as the manager of Chelsea in European competitions comes in a home match against Servette, who have struggled significantly in August.
Chelsea
Against the reigning Premier League champions, Chelsea created a pretty good 0.62 xG and even scored a goal, though Nicolas Jackson’s goal was disallowed by VAR. Likely facing a less threatening opponent, Maresca may start with new signings and reserve players (of which the team has plenty). Pedro Neto, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Renato Veiga (all of whom came off the bench against City) could get their chance from the first minute. At home, Chelsea will aim to settle everything regarding their qualification for the Conference League group stage—they are expected to dominate.
Servette
Servette began the current season with three consecutive wins in the league, followed by a streak of four matches without a victory. This included a heavy 0:6 defeat to Basel and an elimination from the Europa League qualifiers by Braga (1:2 on aggregate). At home, Servette allowed three shots on target from the Portuguese side, two of which resulted in goals: they make many crucial mistakes in defence.
Chelsea - Servette Prediction
Chelsea's promising performance against a formidable opponent gives fans hope for a strong season. In European competitions, the London side must avoid any mistakes—against Servette, they will attack a lot.
