Roland Leitinger must end his season

More than 10,000 places have been reserved for the meeting between Servette Chênois and Chelsea counting for the third day of the Champions League.

The Champions League is in the spotlight on Tuesday evening (6:45 pm) at the Stade de la Praille: Servette Chênois challenges Chelsea Last season, the « Blues » were beaten by Barcelona (0-4) at the last stage of the competition. A meeting that could attract a large crowd: ten thousand places, among them five thousand allocated to school students and one thousand four hundred, have been reserved.
A most encouraging prospect for the players of Servette Chênois, in particular for their captain Alyssa Lagonia

 » It is really very stimulating to generate such enthusiasm. I believe we will break records if everyone comes. It’s always an honor to be at this level and to be able to play a Champions’ League match in front of the home crowd. It’s something you dream of growing up. It will be very important to achieve a good performance for all these people who come to see us hoping to be able to leave a legacy for the next generation. « 

The Servettiennes, among them, Daina Bourma, on the right, and Thaïs Hurni, masked, trained on the lawn of the Praille at 24 hours of the match between them against Chelsea under the direction of their coach Eric Séverac, in the center (© KEYSTONE / Salvatore Di Nolfi).

A whole team with two exceptions

Alyssa Lagonia has returned to her post and once again assumes her role as captain. The Italian-Canadian striker opened the scoring Saturday in the Swiss Cup against Lucerne (4-1). It tells us how close (or not) it is to the top of its form.

« I had to work very hard with the physios and the management. Even though you can only get back to your best level by playing, I would say that I am well prepared and ready. The staff did a good job. to get me to this stage and I’m really looking forward to being on the pitch on Tuesday.« 

Coach Eric Severac will have to do without Paula Serrano and Marta Peirô Gimenez on the other hand, he will be able to count on his executives like Alyssa Lagonia and Sandy Maendly (© Stéphane Chollet).

The same goes for Sandy Maendly who did not come into play in the Cup. On the other hand, Marta Peirô Gimenez (victim of a « medical accident ») and Paula Serrano injured during the first Champions League meeting against Juventus in early October will be absent.

The players have worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices to return to the group or be in the eleven called to challenge Chelsea on Tuesday according to their Eric Séverac during the press conference (© Stéphane Chollet).

Alyssa Lagonia: « we have a mountain to climb »

Chelsea are arguably the strongest team in this group by virtue of their record, even if Wolfsburg also has very serious arguments, this is in essence what the Servettian captain said before training on the lawn. de la Praille.

« Compared to their past and their record, Chelsea can claim this title just like Wolfsburg, who have also achieved great things in this competition. As for us, we have a mountain to climb. They are a fantastic team and we are looking forward to measuring ourselves against them and seeing how we can counter them. « 

As for how to climb this mountain, the answer is clear: work and solidarity.

« By working hard, by staying together, compact, by playing as a team, hoping that we will achieve a result.« 

Nathalia Spaelti, in pink, and the Servettiennes will once again be able to count on the presence of the experienced Sandy Maendly – in the center – to « climb the mountain » Chelsea; Spain striker Jade Boho will also have the opportunity to assert his sense of goal (© KEYSTONE / Salvatore Di Nolfi)