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Chelsea will hope to safe a spot for the 2025 UEFA Convention League remaining at Stadion Wrocław in Wrocław, Poland, after they host Swedish aspect Djurgården within the second-leg semi-final conflict at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night time.
The Blues are the frontrunners to win the UEFA Convention League this season and are inside touching distance of the ultimate.
The West London outfit are on a historic quest to turn into the primary membership to win the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Convention League titles.
For the reason that group stage commenced, the Blues have emerged victorious in 12 of their 13 matches within the match—struggling only one loss. That defeat got here within the second leg of their quarter-final in opposition to Legia Warsaw, though a 3-0 lead from the primary leg had already given them management. They responded in fashion with a commanding 1-4 away victory within the opening leg of the semi-final.
First-half strikes from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke set the tone for Chelsea, with substitute Nicolas Jackson coming off the bench so as to add two extra, stretching the benefit to 4-0 earlier than Isak Alemayehu’s late reply, which was unlikely to shift the momentum.
Chelsea followers will recall an identical state of affairs simply weeks in the past after they introduced a three-goal cushion again to Stamford Bridge in opposition to Legia Warsaw. Though they misplaced on the night time, development into the subsequent spherical was by no means doubtful. It’s no shock then that Chelsea followers are already shopping for UEFA Conference League final tickets because it’s extremely unlikely they’ll let slip their lead at dwelling.
Morale within the dwelling camp will undoubtedly be excessive, particularly after recording 4 consecutive wins, the newest being a formidable 3-1 overcome Premier League champions Liverpool—additional solidifying their bid for Champions League qualification.
Enzo Maresca’s aspect, at present positioned inside the highest 5 forward of their weekend journey to Newcastle United, are anticipated to maintain a lot of their consideration on the home entrance. The supervisor will look to navigate this second leg with out issues.
Given how the primary leg unfolded—and contemplating Chelsea have saved clear sheets in every of their earlier three dwelling fixtures in opposition to Swedish sides—the whole lot factors in the direction of one other routine outing on the Bridge.
Confronted with the identical state of affairs Legia encountered at Stamford Bridge, Djurgården will intention to ship a commendable show and maybe even claw again a end result after the humbling expertise they suffered on dwelling turf final week.
The problem forward of Djurgården is big, but the primary leg confirmed they possess the instruments to pose issues.
The Swedish membership unsettled Chelsea’s backline throughout the early exchanges and later managed to tug a purpose again within the second half, injecting a level of unease into the competition.
Djurgården’s journey within the Europa Convention League has been commendable—ending the group stage in fifth place, which secured direct entry into the final 16. There, they overturned a 1-0 deficit to edge out Pafos 3-1 on mixture, adopted by an identical turnaround in opposition to Speedy Vienna within the quarter-finals after once more shedding the opening leg by a solitary purpose.
Nonetheless, Jani Honkavaara and his squad will focus totally on correcting their sluggish opening to the Allsvenskan marketing campaign, which is partly brought on by their European commitments.
No Swedish aspect has ever reached 11 victories in a single European season, and attaining that feat right here stays attainable. Nonetheless, Honkavaara’s consideration will possible be fastened on steering his group away from the decrease reaches of Sweden’s prime division.
Their 1-1 draw with AIK on Sunday prolonged a worrying sample—Djurgården have did not win any of the three home fixtures performed instantly after European outings since their season started in March. To this point, they’ve picked up simply eight factors from a most of 18 within the league.
Though Djurgården have managed to get well from first-leg setbacks in each the spherical of 16 and the quarter-finals en path to their maiden European semi-final, the 4-1 loss to a fluid and medical Chelsea could be a deficit too steep for the Allsvenskan aspect to beat.
Chelsea vs Djurgården match particulars
- Date: Thursday, eighth Might
- Location: London, England
- Venue: Stamford Bridge
- Kick-off time: 08:00 PM GMT
- Tickets: Chelsea tickets could be bought through the membership or via a good reseller like Seatsnet.com
Match stats and head-to-head
• Chelsea’s 4-1 victory in Sweden marked the first-ever aggressive conflict between the 2 golf equipment.
• At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have solely scored twice of their two Europa Convention League knockout dwelling fixtures.
• Nicolas Jackson has netted three targets in as many appearances for Chelsea on this season’s competitors.
• Djurgården are winless in all three league matches that adopted a European outing since March, most lately drawing 1-1 with AIK.
• No Swedish membership has ever recorded 11 European wins in a single season—Djurgården would make historical past with a win right here.
• Chelsea have saved clear sheets of their final three dwelling video games in opposition to Swedish opponents.
• The Blues have triumphed in 12 of their 13 Convention League matches this season, with their solely loss coming at dwelling to Legia Warsaw.
• Enzo Maresca’s aspect will enter into the second leg driving a four-game profitable streak throughout all competitions.
Group information
Maresca finds himself in a well-recognized place in comparison with the one he confronted earlier than the second leg versus Legia. But, regardless of fielding a powerful beginning eleven in that loss, he could think about making extra adjustments this time, particularly with a vital fixture in opposition to Newcastle quick approaching.
Josh Acheampong was the one academy participant within the beginning lineup for the house tie in opposition to Legia, however Tyrique George might be handed a begin on this encounter. On the identical time, Shumaira Mheuka and Mathis Amougou will look to step up from the bench.
Christopher Nkunku has additionally joined Wesley Fofana and Marc Guiu on the damage checklist. Though Romeo Lavia is again in coaching, he hasn’t been included within the squad for the Convention League—so his return will possible be saved for the go to to St James’ Park.
As for Djurgården, they’ll once more be with out Filip Manojlović—their common goalkeeper will not be listed for European matches—and Malkolm Nilsson stays sidelined with an elbow subject, which means Jacob Rinne is predicted to proceed in purpose.
Zakaria Sawo, teenager Matias Siltanen, and veteran midfielder Albin Ekdal are additionally not a part of the registered squad, whereas Honkavaara is contending with a number of different first-team accidents, forcing the membership to call solely seven substitutes as an alternative of the utmost 12 in final week’s tie.
The checklist of unavailable gamers consists of Patric Åslund, Oskar Fallenius, Nino Žugelj, Rasmus Schüller, and Piotr Johansson—bringing the full variety of absentees into double digits for the journey to London.
Predicted beginning lineup
Chelsea predicted beginning lineup:
Jorgensen; Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Gusto; James, Amougou, Dewsbury-Corridor; Sancho, Mheuka, George
Djurgårdens predicted beginning lineup:
Rinne; Stahl, Larsson, Danielson, Kosugi; Finndell, Stensson, Gulliksen; Haarala, Nguen, Priske.
Prediction
Chelsea’s dwelling defeat to Legia Warsaw within the second leg of their quarter-final tie marked a big low in an in any other case robust marketing campaign, and Maresca might be eager to keep away from one other slip-up this time.
The chances seem to favour him, with Djurgården at present positioned eleventh in Sweden’s Allsvenskan—having secured solely two victories from their first 5 fixtures. As soon as a dominant pressure domestically with a title hat-trick between 2002 and 2005, they’ve lifted only one league trophy since, in 2019.
Identified to their followers because the Iron Stoves, Djurgården are having fun with probably the most profitable European run of their historical past, having fallen in need of making final season’s competitors after a qualifying loss to Luzern.
Though Maresca is more likely to rotate the squad forward of a difficult Premier League weekend, Chelsea’s superior high quality ought to be sufficient to see them via to the ultimate.
We’re predicting a 2-1 win for Chelsea.
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