Chelsea Football Club is set to kick off their Premier League campaign with a tough match against reigning champions Manchester City. However, once that game is over, the Blues will need to quickly shift their focus to their European campaign, specifically the Uefa Conference League.
The qualification process for the Uefa Conference League has been underway for over a month, commencing on July 11, just before the Euro 2024 final. As for Chelsea, they will enter the competition at the play-off round, which is the fourth and final stage before the group phase.
The draw for the play-off round occurred on August 5, revealing that Chelsea will face either Servette, a Swiss club, or Braga, a Portuguese side. The outcome of the Europa League match between Servette and Braga on Thursday night determined which team would progress to face Chelsea. After a 0-0 draw in Portugal during the first leg, Braga emerged victorious with a 2-1 win in the second leg, thanks to goals from Amine El Ouazzani and Roberto Fernandez. Consequently, Servette now faces a trip to Stamford Bridge next week, and Chelsea fans are understandably optimistic, even predicting a resounding “10-0 win” against the Swiss Super League team.
Regarding the timing of Chelsea’s Uefa Conference League campaign, their first match will take place on Thursday, August 22, shortly after their clash with Man City. The first leg will be held at Stamford Bridge, with the second leg scheduled for Thursday, August 29, at an away venue.
In addition to their European commitments, Chelsea will have a busy start to the Premier League season. Following their match against Man City, they will face Wolves on August 25 and host Crystal Palace on September 1. Therefore, the team will need to manage their schedule effectively to balance domestic and European fixtures.
If Chelsea successfully navigate past Servette in the play-off round, they will progress to the group phase, which is set to occur on August 30. The first game of the group phase is scheduled for October 3.
Overall, Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures present an exciting and demanding start to their season. With their Premier League campaign beginning against Manchester City and their European adventure soon after, the Blues will need to showcase their strength and depth in order to compete on multiple fronts.