RTL Today – Chelsea gives Maresca his first league win

Chelsea recorded their first win under new coach Enzo Maresca as they beat Servette 2-0 in the first leg of their English Football Association League play-off tie on Thursday.

The hosts struggled to break down the opposition defence in the first half at Stamford Bridge but Christopher Nkunku converted a 50th-minute penalty, just his fourth goal for the club.

Marc Guiu somehow missed an open goal minutes later, but Noni Madueke fired home from a pass from Enzo Fernandez to move Chelsea closer to a place in the group stage ahead of next week’s second leg.

In the final moments of the game, Tiemoko Ouattara’s shot hit the crossbar and almost pulled one back for Swiss side Servette.

It was a welcome win for Chelsea as Maresca lost 2-0 in their opening match against Manchester City last weekend.

The Blues return to European competition after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season under Mauricio Pochettino.

“We are learning how to manage the game,” said Maresca, who guided Leicester City to promotion to the Premier League last season.

“To win the game with nine changes was huge. There were a lot of good things.”

But Chelsea suffered a scare when key player Cole Palmer, who came on as a second-half substitute, collapsed on the bench at the end of the game after holding his leg.

Maresca said: “Cole felt a little bit unwell but he seems OK. Hopefully he’ll be OK and available for Sunday’s game (against Wolves).

In other matches, Greek club Panathinaikos lost 2-1 in the first leg away to Lens, who played with 10 men, with Wesley Said’s goal becoming the winning goal for the French Ligue 1 side.

Former Spain and Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea had a difficult debut as Fiorentina were held to a 3-3 draw at home by Hungarian side Puskás Academy.

Irish club St Patrick’s kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the European Championship group stage for the first time as they drew 0-0 with Istanbul Basaksehir.

In the Europa League play-offs, Dutch giants Ajax beat Jagiellonia 4-1 in Poland, with English striker Chuba Akpom scoring a hat-trick.

Besiktas led 3-1 but drew 3-3 with Lugano in Switzerland, while Scottish side Hearts lost 1-0 at Viktoria Pilsen.