Relief for Maresca as Chelsea scrape through against lowly Servette

In the end there were fireworks being let off from the stand behind Filip Jörgensen's goal and a few too many being allowed to take place in Chelsea's area.

- Jacob Steinberg

Servette were still plugging away deep into added time and, while they fell short of denying Enzo Maresca's second string a place in the Europa Conference League, an unlikely upset would have been within reach if Timothe Cognat's bending shot had found the net during the dying moments.

As it was, the midfielder's effort swerved just wide, sparing Chelsea the humiliation of being taken to extra-time by the side sitting seventh in the Swiss Super League.

This, though, did not feel like an occasion for celebration. Maresca will have hated how this second leg veered away from his side, who won 3-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-1 on the night. Chelsea can throw as much money as they want at Victor Osimhen and Jadon Sancho before the transfer window shuts but their development will be bumpy until they sharpen up without the ball.

The big worry for Maresca was how his players would fare on a pitch badly damaged by a fungal infection. The danger about taking a 2-0 lead from the first leg for granted was clear, not least because Servette had created chances even in defeat, and there were immediate signs that the surface would pose problems.