Burkina Faso
Friendly Games
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Servettevs.Chelsea

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 August 2024, 13:31
Chelsea could be without three first-team players through injury for Thursday's trip to Switzerland to face Servette in the second leg of their Europa Conference League playoff.

The Blues, who beat Servette 2-0 in last week's first leg, are set to be without captain Reece James as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, so either Malo Gusto or Axel Disasi are expected to start at right-back.

Romeo Lavia sustained a hamstring problem before Chelsea's thumping 6-2 Premier League win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last Sunday and is a doubt for the clash with Servette, as is Moises Caicedo who was taken off midway through the second half against Wolves following a strong collision.

Meanwhile, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling are also unavailable for selection as they have all been omitted from Chelsea's Conference League squad.

Enzo Maresca made nine alterations for the win over Wolves from the side that beat Servette last week and the Italian is expected to ring the changes once again on Thursday, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen in line to replace Robert Sanchez between the sticks.

Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile were both handed starts at centre-back in the first leg and could be recalled to start on Thursday, while either Renato Veiga or Marc Cucurella are set to play at left-back.

Lavia and Caicedo both started the first leg, but as they are doubtful, Maresca could select Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in centre-midfield, while a decision will be made on whether to name star playmaker Cole Palmer in the first XI or have the 22-year-old begin as a substitute.

Noni Madueke scored a superb 14-minute hat-trick against Wolves, with all three goals assisted by Palmer, and he could retain his place on the right flank, while Pedro Neto, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku all battle for a start on the left.

Nkunku is also an option to play as a number 10 instead of Palmer, as is new signing Joao Felix who was not available for the first leg, and both players could also do a job up front if Maresca opts against selecting either Nicolas Jackson or Marc Guiu as his centre-forward.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Cucurella; Fernandez, Dewsbury-Hall; Madueke, Felix, Neto; Nkunku

Show more

Top News

9 May 2025 talksport.com Manchester United and Tottenham fans are scrambling to get to Bilbao for the Europa League final later this month. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United have announced their intentions to change their club crest with the help of supporters. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Jack Wilshere won't be appointed as the new permanent manager at Norwich City, talkSPORT understands. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal's Premier League rivals believe the Gunners will win the race for Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres, talkSPORT understands. 9 May 2025 talksport.com The Chelsea Supporters' Trust will formally write a letter of complaint to the club after Djurgarden away fans infiltrated the Stamford Bridge home end. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou delivered a passionate dressing room speech to his players after Tottenham reached the Europa League final. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Real Madrid have agreed a deal to make Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso their new manager, talkSPORT understands. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed to what extent he learned off Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini during his playing days and managerial career. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City could be tempted to hand a full debut to youngster Jeremy Monga during the match at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest could be set to play without the services of defender Murillo on Sunday, when Leicester City are the opponents in the Premier League. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both battling desperately for Serie A survival, Hellas Verona and Lecce clash at Stadio Bentegodi on Sunday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to take a major step towards Champions League qualification for the first time this century, Nottingham Forest welcome already-relegated Leicester City to the City Ground for a Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Sunderland will be hoping for a similar outcome to their 1990 play-off campaign in the coming weeks - but perhaps with slightly less drama. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Roy Keane jokingly referenced Eni Aluko and her recent row with Ian Wright that followed controversial comments on the Arsenal legend. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Three Premier League clubs have booked their places in European finals and talkSPORT.com has all the latest. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh from seeing their relegation confirmed last week, Monza visit mid-table Udinese for Serie A's Sunday lunchtime kickoff. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh from booking their spot in the Europa League final, Manchester United will resume their Premier League campaign with a home fixture against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich have reportedly moved to the head of the queue for Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has become just the second manager in Manchester United's history to reach a major European final in his first season in charge, matching his fellow Portuguese Jose Mourinho's achievement from the 2016-17 campaign. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that Diogo Dalot "is doing everything to recover" from a calf problem in time to be involved in the Europa League final on May 21. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The Premier League season cannot end soon enough for Tottenham Hotspur, who continue their top-flight campaign at home to London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul vs. Fenerbahce (Friday, 6.00pm) Round 35 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig kicks off with a clash between Fenerbahce, who are clinging to a slim title hope, and Istanbul Basaksehir, who remain in contention for a European place. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to continue strong starts to the Major League Soccer season, Minnesota United and Inter Miami will do battle at Allianz Field on Saturday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The final match of the MLS weekend will see the top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps host a surging Los Angeles FC side on Sunday at BC Place Stadium. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With their hopes of staying in the Bundesliga resting on finishing in the relegation playoff spot, Heidenheim will travel to face Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marcus Rashford is said to have changed agents in order to help a transfer to Barcelona materialise in the summer transfer window. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara's quest for European football goes down to the wire as they play host to Famalicao at the Estadio de Sao Miguel in the penultimate game of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly not offered Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne a contract ahead of the expiry of his deal in the summer. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Liam Manning labelled referee Oliver Langford's decision to send Rob Dickie off as a 'disgrace' as Bristol City's play-off hopes took a major blow.