Servette 2-1 Chelsea (2-3 on aggregate): Qualification vital to give fringe players game time

Chelsea made hard work of it, but did enough to see off Servette and move into the league phase of the Europa Conference League.

After a 2-0 home win in the first leg, Christopher Nkunku's early penalty looked to have sealed the qualification play-off, only for the Swiss side to score twice to set up a nervy finish, with them missing a late chance that would have taken the tie to extra-time.

With Enzo Maresca only having one more day to trim his already bloated squad, with Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell among the players that could leave on Friday's transfer deadline day, qualification in Switzerland was important.

Not only have Chelsea, Champions League winners as recently as 2021, continued their European campaign, it also provides an extra six games for Maresca to rotate his squad and keep some of his fringe players happy.

The competition could also provide a valuable chance to give youngsters a chance, as Maresca did just after the hour mark in Geneva when he handed 18-year-old winger Tyrique George, a player who has represented England at under-18s level, his senior debut.

Chelsea are one of the favourites to win the Conference League and find out their six opponents in the revamped format on Friday from 13:30 BST.