Overview

• Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday that Facundo Buonanotte replaces Dario Essugo on their UEFA list, a change reflected on the governing body’s website ahead of the Bayern Munich opener.
• UEFA recently amended its regulations to allow a temporary replacement for one outfield player with a long‑term injury or illness up to the sixth match day in December.
• The rule change aims to prevent squads from being unfairly reduced and to ease workload pressure on available players.
• Essugo suffered a thigh injury on Portugal Under-21 duty and underwent surgery, with the club estimating an absence of roughly 12 weeks.
• Buonanotte, signed on loan from Brighton late in the window and initially omitted from Chelsea’s A and B lists, is now eligible to feature as Enzo Maresca navigates midfield depth concerns, with Romeo Lavia being eased back after returning to training.