Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge with one foot already in the UEFA Europa Conference League final, holding a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg against Swedish side Djurgården. That dominant display in Stockholm, their first-ever meeting with the Allsvenskan club, showcased the Blues’ growing confidence—and they only reinforced that impression with a 3-1 win over Premier League champions Liverpool at the weekend.
With that victory, Chelsea extended their winning streak to four matches across all competitions, hitting top form just when it matters most. Under Enzo Maresca, the team looks to be peaking at the business end of the campaign. While the emphatic first-leg advantage removes any real pressure heading into the return fixture, Chelsea are still widely expected to take care of business, especially considering their formidable record against Swedish clubs. The Londoners have won each of their last three home games against Swedish opposition by a combined 8-0 scoreline.
For Djurgården, the first leg was a harsh introduction to English opposition. Despite entering the tie as underdogs, the scale of their defeat will have stung, and a 1-1 draw with AIK over the weekend did little to restore momentum. With just one win in their last four matches (D2, L1), they now face an almost impossible task.
Still, the Swedish outfit can draw some inspiration from their quarter-final heroics, when they overturned a 1-0 home-leg defeat against Rapid Vienna. But turning around a three-goal deficit at Stamford Bridge is an entirely different challenge, and even if Djurgården manage to set a new Swedish record with an 11th European win in a single season, it’s unlikely to be enough to see them through.
Players to Watch:
Cole Palmer ended an 18-match goal drought by scoring against Liverpool, and while he’s yet to feature in this season’s Conference League due to earlier squad omissions, his current form makes him a key attacking threat. For Djurgården, 19-year-old Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta netted his first senior goal in the first leg and could earn his first-ever start in a European semi-final—a huge moment for the young striker.
Hot Stat:
Chelsea have a perfect record in European competition when winning the first leg away from home, progressing in all 16 such ties to date.
