Thank you for joining us!
So, it will be Chelsea vs SC Braga or Servette for a place in the group stages of the Conference League!
You can follow all the action from both legs with the Chelsea Chronicle, including build up, match reaction and post-game opinion pieces.
[Link]Potential very tough draw
It may not even come to it, but SC Braga are not far off a nightmare draw for Chelsea as far as the Conference League goes.
Full Main Path draw
A look at some of who of our fellow seeded sides will be taking on later this month…
Servette fans not too confident
This supporter is clearly trying to look on the bright side of things…
“We have to look on the bright side, at least the stadium will be 100% full.”
When will Chelsea know their opponents?
SC Braga are hosting Servette in the first leg of the Europa League play-off this Thursday, with the return fixture set for a week after
After that, the loser of the two-legged affair will face Chelsea for a place in the Conference League.
[Link]Banza one to watch
If Chelsea were to face SC Braga, striker Simon Banza is certainly a player who will be looking to perform on the big stage.
The forward now has 19 appearances under his belt in Europe, scoring twice in the Europa League last season.
A look at Servette
Currently sitting 2nd in the Swiss Pro League, Servette’s season is already four games in.
They reached the Round of 16 of this competition last season, and have experience in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League as recently as last summer too.
You’d think quality would prevail for the Blues if they were to take this side on, however it can’t be underestimated just how sharp their opponents will be in comparison based on when their seasons begin.
Potential tough tie for Chelsea
With all the teams the Blues could have faced, one they will have hoped to avoid the possibility of meeting was SC Braga.
The Portuguese side competed in the Champions League last season, before dropping down to the Europa League after finishing third.
A reminder, Chelsea will only face them if they lose the fixture against Servette this week.
Confirmed fixture dates
Chelsea will start their Conference League campaign at home with the first leg on 22 August.
They will then travel to either Portugal or Switzerland for the second leg a week later to look to confirm their group stage place.
[Link]Group 3 for Chelsea
A reminder of the sides we can draw in a few moments’ time:
NK Maribor (SVN) / FK Vojvodina (SRB)
SC Braga (POR) / Servette FC (SUI) (Loser)
FC Spartak Trnava (SVK) / Wisła Kraków (POL)
Paksi FC (HUN) / FK Mornar (MNE)
St Patrick’s Athletic (IRL) / FC Sabah (AZE)
[Link]Champions path draw completed
Well, that was thankfully swift. Now it’s time for the Main Path draw, with it being no surprise that Chelsea are the highest seeded side in the competition.
[Link]Underway at last!
The Champions Path section of the draw is underway!
A reminder, Chelsea and their potential opponents are in Group 3 of the Main Path.
[Link]Rules being explained
It may be a new competition for Chelsea, but all fans are well aware this part can take a few minutes…
[Link]And we’re off!
The formalities have begun out in Switzerland, who will Chelsea be taking on later this month?
[Link]It’s nearly time!
We are moments away from the draw getting underway and finding out where Chelsea’s European journey for 2024/25 gets underway.
[Link]Humbling experience for the Blues
Chelsea won’t be taking on any of these sides in the play-offs, but they could await should they make their way into the group stages of the competition.
£100m+ stars playing in 500 seater stadiums…
When will Chelsea play their play-off games?
Chelsea will play their two-legged play-off on 22 and 29 August.
The first leg comes in between their first and second Premier League games, while the second leg comes three days before the home match against Crystal Palace.
Rotation will certainly be key for Enzo Maresca in the opening weeks of the season.
[Link]Jorgensen to make his mark in Europe?
It remains to be seen who will start the season between the sticks for Chelsea after the signing of Filip Jorgensen.
He will be competing with Robert Sanchez for a place in the side, and the goalkeeper used in the Conference League may well not be their number one.
Jorgensen will be hoping it is not long before he establishes himself as the starting keeper for Enzo Maresca.
Mourinho on ‘special’ Conference League
Many may turn their nose up at this competition, however Chelsea legend Jose Mourinho is not one who does.
Previously a winner with Roma, the two-time Blues boss has claimed that he is a massive fan of the competition, labelling it ‘special’.
Will the Blues add a fourth European trophy to their ranks after the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup?
[Link]
One hour to go
Just an hour until the draw gets underway now. Trips to anywhere from Ireland to Azerbaijan await the Blues.
A reminder of who we can draw:
NK Maribor (SVN) / FK Vojvodina (SRB)
SC Braga (POR) / Servette FC (SUI)
FC Spartak Trnava (SVK) / Wisła Kraków (POL)
Paksi FC (HUN) / FK Mornar (MNE)
St Patrick’s Athletic (IRL) / FC Sabah (AZE)
[Link]Who will feature for Chelsea in the Conference League?
It is likely that Enzo Maresca will look to his squad for a lot of the Conference League games this season.
Based on pre-season so far, very few have impressed as much as Marc Guiu, who looks set to remain at the club for the upcoming season.
It’s fair to say Chelsea fans are more than keen for that to be the outcome, with him able to use this competition for key minutes in his development.
[Link]
Conference League history
Not many Chelsea players have history playing in the Conference League, however new signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is one of those who does.
His Leicester City side at the time reached the semi-finals In 2022, before a Tammy Abraham header dumped them out of the competition.
With Enzo Maresca knowing very well what the midfielder can bring, expect him to play a big part in the competition this summer.
Familiar potential opponent
Chelsea fans with good memories will recognise Maribor as a side they’ve played before in the 2014/15 Champions League group stages.
A dominant 6-0 win at Stamford Bridge was followed two weeks later by a nervy 1-1 draw where Nemanja Matic scored to level the game.
Chelsea topped their group that year, before being dumped out by PSG on away goals in the Round of 16.
How today will work
The draw for the play-off will commence at 13:00 GMT, with Chelsea the only confirmed seeded side in Group 3 of the draw.
Seeded sides can only draw unseeded sides, which means the Blues will be playing the winner of one of these ties.
NK Maribor (SVN) / FK Vojvodina (SRB)
SC Braga (POR) / Servette FC (SUI)
FC Spartak Trnava (SVK) / Wisła Kraków (POL)
Paksi FC (HUN) / FK Mornar (MNE)
St Patrick’s Athletic (IRL) / FC Sabah (AZE)
[Link]How we got here…
It was certainly a memorable season under Mauricio Pochettino for Chelsea, and their sixth placed finish in the Premier League would normally be enough for Europa League football to be coming their way.
However, Manchester United’s win in the FA Cup final saw them take that spot in the competition, seeing the Blues drop into the Conference League.
It won’t be the Argentine in charge though, with Enzo Maresca set to take the reins for this season.
Welcome!
Hello, and welcome to The Chelsea Chronicle’s coverage of the UEFA Conference League draw live from Nyon!
A hectic start to the season for the Blues will see a couple of European matches thrown in already as they look to book their place in the competition’s group stages.
Many believe this presents a real opportunity for silverware in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge, so stay tuned to see where that journey will begin!
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