Chelsea win Conference League opener for Maresca

Chelsea won their debut match under new coach Enzo Maresca 2-0 over Servette in the Conference League play-off round first leg on Thursday. After a slow start at Stamford Bridge, Christopher Nkunku scored a 50th-minute penalty, his fourth for the club, to put the hosts ahead. Marc Guiu missed a clear chance a few minutes later, but Noni Madueke netted from Enzo Fernandez’s ball to take Chelsea closer to a group-stage spot before next week’s second leg.

Late on, Servette’s Tiemoko Ouattara’s deflected shot hit the crossbar. Following Maresca’s debut loss to Manchester City 2-0 at the weekend, Chelsea was pleased to win. After finishing sixth in the Premier League under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea are returning to Europe. “We are learning how to manage the game,” added Maresca, who led Leicester to Premier League promotion last season. “Winning with nine changes was crucial. There were several plusses.”

Chelsea were worried when second-half substitute Cole Palmer limped down the dugout holding his leg at fulltime. “Cole looks fine despite feeling something. I hope he can play Sunday against Wolves, “Maresca remarked. Panathinaikos lost 2-1 at 10-man Lens in their opening leg, with Wesley Said scoring the goal for Ligue 1. David de Gea struggled on his Fiorentina debut as Puskas Akademia equalised 3-3 at home.

After drawing Istanbul Basaksehir 0-0, St Patrick’s maintained their hopes of qualifying for the European group stage for the first time. Dutch giants Ajax defeated Jagiellonia 4-1 in Poland in the Europa League play-offs, with English forward Chuba Akpom scoring a hat-trick. Scottish side Hearts lost 1-0 against Viktoria Plzen, while Besiktas drew 3-3 with Lugano in Switzerland after a 3-1 lead.