Live and extensive coverage from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea welcome Swiss side Servette to west London for the first-leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifying play-off

Hello and welcome to football.london for live coverage from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea take on Servette this evening.

The Blues will be looking to take one step into the UEFA Conference League proper tonight with a win against the Swiss side. It is the first of two legs of the play-off round as both teams look for European football this season with the second match taking place in Geneva, Switzerland this time next week.

Enzo Maresca kicked off his Chelsea tenure officially on Sunday but the Blues unfortunately fell to a 2-0 defeat to champions Manchester City in the Premier League. Despite the result, the Italian was encouraged by what he witnessed from his side at the Bridge.

Frustratingly for the head coach, most of the talk around Chelsea this week has been about the size of the squad. Maresca, though, was keen to address the questions in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

Maresca is fully focused on the task at hand this evening, however, and you can Follow live coverage from Stamford Bridge with Bobby Vincent in our dedicated live blog below...

Nkunku from the spot! The first goal of the Enzo Maresca era at Stamford Bridge! Cool as you like from the Frenchman.

Nkunku rounds the goalkeeper and is brought down. Penalty to the Blues. Nkunku to take.

No changes from either side.

Some boos from the Stamford Bridge faithful as the referee's whistle blew for half-time. Just the second game into the Enzo Maresca era and some supporters are not happy with what they are seeing.

Jorgensen - 6

Disasi - 5

Tosin - 6

Badiashile - 5

Veiga - 6

Caicedo - 6

Dewsbury-Hall - 7

Neto - 7

Nkunku - 6

Mudryk - 4

Guiu - 6

Flat. Flat performance. So much more that needs to be done out there. Servette have looked a threat, too.

Another good chance for Servette. Free-kick whipped in from the right-hand side and Roullier gets a good connection with his header but it's too close to Jorgensen, who gathers easily.

Neto gets a shot away. He hits it well but it's far too close to Frick in the Servette goal. Should perhaps do better.

Chelsea's best chance of the game so far. Mudryk plays an unconventional one-two with Guiu and ends up charging through on goal in a very strong position. The winger takes his shot early, though, and drags it wide of the near post. Should do better.

It has gone a bit flat at Stamford Bridge. Servette have grown into the game after a bright Chelsea start.

So far, Dewsbury-Hall and Neto look the two sharpest for the Blues. Mudryk struggling to get too involved.

The first we've seen from Servette in an attacking sense. A good effort from Kutesa but it is quite comfortably tipped over by Jorgensen.

Our first glimpse of Neto tonight as he bombs it down the line, whips a ball in on his right foot and it's almost an own goal. Unlucky.

Guiu with a great early chance. Dewsbury-Hall plays Guiu through and the striker looks to round the goalkeeper but loses his balance. Might have been offside anyway.

Underway at the Bridge.

The two teams are now walking onto the Stamford Bridge pitch here. A good noise around the stadium!

The two sides have now headed back down the tunnel. Their warm-ups are done. We're almost ready here as Stamford Bridge slowly fills up.

A few boos for the Servette squad as they entered the pitch but a much better - and louder - ovation for the Chelsea lot a few moments later.

The Chelsea goalkeepers are out onto the pitch. There are three in the squad this evening with two on the bench, something that has caused uproar on social media with Carney Chukwuemeka not involved tonight.

Anyway, here is a nice picture of Enzo Maresca smiling.

Joao Felix here tonight. All smiles for the Portuguese.

Here is how the visitors line up this evening: Frick, Tsunemoto, Rouiller, Ondoua, Cognat, Stevanovic, Kutesa, Mazikou, Severin, Crivelli, Douline

Chelsea side to take on Servette: Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Nkunku, Mudryk; Guiu.

Chelsea's newest arrival will be in attendance this evening...

Joao Felix here tonight, as called by @kierangill_DM, and the plan is at the moment for the new signing to be presented pre-match rather than half-time. #CFC pic.twitter.com/LB2utHrCUQ

We're now under two hours from kick-off here at Stamford Bridge. No supporters in the stadium yet but the general atmosphere is building.

It's good to have European football back. Albeit the Conference League.

The Chelsea head coach was in fine form yesterday as he faced the media for his pre-match press conference - and he had to be.

Maresca faced some very difficult questions on Wednesday at Cobham. The press conference covered:

The Conference League can be a good competition for us, first of all because Chelsea belong in European competition and because this is a club that has a fantastic history of winning UEFA trophies.

We want to add a new chapter to that history and create new memories, but we also have to take each step at a time, and that means getting past this play-off against Servette first. Let's make a good start tonight.

European nights are back. #CFC pic.twitter.com/ZtDnHNJLfv

How will the Blues get on tonight at home? They're looking for their first competitive win under Enzo Maresca, and are heavy favourites to do just that at Stamford Bridge.

We've used EA FC 24 to predict how the game could go...

Bobby Vincent has done his best at trying to predict the Chelsea line-up for this evening's game with the information we have available to us.

There will be no Joao Felix tonight. The 24-year-old was signed from Atletico Madrid 24 hours ago but he is not on the list for the match at Stamford Bridge.

There could be full debuts for the likes of Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, though.

READ MORE HERE

Chelsea's A-list for the Conference League clash with Servette:

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli

Defenders: Axel Disasi, Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Renato Veiga

Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Romeo Lavia

Attackers: Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson Chosen by us to get you up to speed at a glance

Penalty for Chelsea!

Rash from Servette keeper Frick as he races off his line and sweeps Nkuku off his feet.

No ifs or buts with that one.

After a flat first half, Chelsea will look to inject some more life into their play as the second half commences. 

No changes at the break, but Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson were warming up on the pitch at half time so we might see them in action soon.

Boos from the home fans are almost drowned out by the booming chants of the Servette supporters as the first half comes to an end. 

Maresca will need to change something at half time as Servette looked the stronger side and had the best chances in the first 45 minutes. 

The Chelsea attack had a few good chances early on but failed to break through and lost their pace throughout. 

As the half progressed, Servette gained confidence and had a few good opportunities, particularly through set pieces. They’ll have been disappointed to hear that half time whistle. 

Good play from Mudryk as a quick flick and stepover sees him clear the Servette defence and head for goal. However, his final touch is too heavy and the ball rolls out of play for a goal kick. 

There are big cheers from the crowd as Cole Palmer begins to warm up on the sidelines. 

After a difficult first half for the home team, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is sure to have some strong words and a few changes to make at half time. 

Mudryk is dispossessed in midfield and Servette are immediately on the offense. They spend some time in possession until good pressing from Guiu forces the ball out for a throw.

However, Chelsea continue to struggle to regain control of the match.

Servette defender Steve Rouiller comes up for a free-kick from the right. He heads it to the goal but it’s caught by Jorgensen.

The atmosphere in the stands remains fairly jovial as the Servette attack continues to test Chelsea’s defence. 

Another good cross from Servette’s right causes problems for the home side and Jorgensen eventually falls on the ball after two attackers fail to deliver a shot.

Another big chance for Neto as a nice spell of play from Nkuku and Mudryk sees him gain the ball just outside the box. He shifts the ball from his right foot to his left and makes a powerful strike from 20 yards out, which is saved by Servette keeper, Jérémy Frick.

The ball breaks for Mudryk on the 18-yard line. He goes for goal but his shot is just a touch too wide. 

A better spell of play from Chelsea. 

Christopher Nkunku takes two corners in quick succession, one from the left and a second from the right.

Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile goes for goal the second time around but the visitors clear.

A chance for Chelsea as Dewsbury-Hall weaves through the midfield and speeds down the left. He passes to Badiashile in the box who just misses the header. The ball goes out for a corner which is easily dealt with by the Servette defence. 

A fourth consecutive corner kick for Servette is headed away by Renato Veiga. 

The Swiss team will need to capitalise on their chances from set pieces, but have struggled to produce a shot on target from them so far. 

However, almost 20 minutes in, Servette are looking the more likely team to score an opening goal as Chelsea struggle to maintain their possession.

Servette winger Dereck Kutesa speeds down the left and takes a shot.

Jorgensen makes an easy save and hits the ball out for a corner kick which is taken poorly. Chelsea are quickly in control again. 

Chelsea are probing the Servette defence in their quest for an opener, with Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Mykhailo Mudryk all getting involved in and around the box. 

Servette’s defence are holding up well so far and the Swiss team have had a few chances on the counter. 

A first test for Chelsea’s debut goalie, Filip Jorgensen as a cross from Gael Ondoua flies into the box and brushes over the top of the goal. The Danish keeper stumbles as he stretches out and, luckily for him, the ball flies over the crossbar.

A big chance for Chelsea in the first minute! Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drives forward towards the goal and plays in Marc Guiu who stumbles in the box as he knocks the ball around the Servette keeper. A touch too heavy but a positive start for the home team. 

We are underway at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea begin their Conference League campaign against Swiss side Servette.

Stamford Bridge is not full, as expected and a very small travelling support from Geneva. The pre-match flame jets are still battling it out with the pre-match pitch sprinklers. The Chelsea XI has some inexperienced individuals, including Marc Guiu. But Enzo Maresca has plenty of his big names on the bench. Maybe this could have been one last runout for the bomb squad players who will presumably be gone by next Saturday.  

It is also noticeable that there is no Uefa branding in the stadium. Ordinarily Uefa partners and Uefa branding would be everywhere at a Uefa competition game at any participant club.

New Chelsea signing Joao Felix receives a standing ovation as he takes to the pitch and greets the fans at Stamford Bridge for the first time.

With 10 minutes to go until kick-off, the stands continue to fill as Chelsea fans gather to watch their team play in the Europa Conference League for the very first time. 

As Joao Felix joined Chelsea on Wednesday, the club bid farewell to Conor Gallagher who went the other way and joined Atletico Madrid for an estimated £35 million. 

After a difficult summer for Gallagher, who was effectively forced to leave the club he loves, he received an emphatic welcome in Madrid as thousands of screaming supporters greeted him at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano. 

Luke Edwards has the full story here.

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and defender Tosin Adarabioyo make their debuts for Chelsea tonight and there are first starts for Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, and Renato Veiga. 

Midfielder Moises Caicedo captains the side while Reece James remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. 

Enzo Maresca has chosen to rest a few key players including Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, and Nicolas Jackson who is getting back to full fitness after an injury over the summer hampered his pre-season.

On Wednesday, Chelsea announced the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid on a six-year deal, with the option to extend for a further year, for a fee believed to be around £45 million. 

Although the Portuguese forward is unable to play in tonight’s match, he will be watching his new Chelsea team mates from the stands.

𝗟𝗘 𝗫𝗜 𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗘 qui débutera la rencontre face à @ChelseaFC ! ⚔️#FromGenevaToEurope pic.twitter.com/lZBJrr2kEi

Your Chelsea side tonight! 👊#CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/F3Xh8R37NO

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage as Chelsea face Servette at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the Europa Conference League play-offs. 

The game comes amid a period of transfer chaos at the club after head coach Enzo Maresca revealed on Tuesday that Raheem Sterling is in a group of “more than 15” players banished from first-team training.

Sterling, who was shocked to be dropped from the Chelsea squad ahead of their defeat by Manchester City on Sunday, has had his No 7 shirt removed and been told by Maresca that he needs to leave if he wants to play regular football.

The exiled group, which has been nicknamed the “bomb squad”, also includes England international Ben Chilwell who has been told he can leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window. 

Maresca said Sterling does not fit into his plans because he prefers “different kinds of wingers” and revealed he has not spoken to the 29-year-old since last week. 

Chelsea’s 40-player squad has been a topic of great interest amid a summer of upheaval, with many questioning who will be the next to go after the confirmed arrival of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. 

Maresca insisted the discussion around the squad size is external “noise” which is not having an impact on his work at the club’s Cobham headquarters.

He said: “The noise is more outside, because I have been working with 21 or 22 players since we came from the USA. 

“I am not working with 42 or 43 players. You like to say we have 42 or 43 players but more than 15 players are training apart. They are not with the team.”

The new Chelsea coach will hope to kick the Blues’ European campaign off with a strong win tonight, after his team suffered a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City in their first league game of the season on Sunday.