Chelsea travel to Sweden to face Djurgarden in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final as the tournament favourites take on the last remaining minnows
Premier League powerhouse Chelsea will open their Europa Conference League semi-final showdown against Swedish side Djurgarden on Thursday. The Blues are favourites for the title and sit just 180 minutes away from their first European final in four years.
Chelsea are hoping to maintain their flawless record on foreign soil this season, having taken a perfect five wins from as many away trips since the league phase got underway. They’ve beaten Legia Warsaw, Copenhagen, Astana, Heidenheim and Panathinaikos in that time, boasting an aggregate goal difference of 14-3 from those games.
In his debut season at Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca has a golden chance to conclude the season with European silverware after being drawn against Djurgarden. The Iron Stoves -who sit 11th in Sweden’s Allsvenskan – have only managed one victory in their last five matches (excluding extra time) and are at long odds for the Conference League title.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have secured back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly two months and appear ready to fulfil their Conference League ambitions. Mirror Sport provides all the essential details to ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action.
When is Djurgarden vs Chelsea?
Thursday’s first leg is scheduled get underway at 8pm BST at the 3Arena in Stockholm. The Scandinavian showdown is expected to be mild, with temperatures around 14 degrees expected, significantly cooler than the recent warm conditions in London.
Meanwhile, La Liga outfit Real Betis will be hosting Serie A’s Fiorentina in the other Conference League semi-final. Either of these teams could potentially give Chelsea a run for their money in the final (should they reach it), but the Blues would do well not to underestimate their more immediate opponents.
Where to watch Djurgarden vs Chelsea
The first leg of Chelsea’s semi-final clash will be broadcast on TNT Sports 4 for those in the UK. This is the same channel that aired the Blues’ 2-1 home defeat to Legia Warsaw in the previous round, although that quarter-final match was essentially over after the English titans secured a 3-0 victory away in the first leg.
Alternatively, fans can live stream Thursday’s match via the Discovery+ app. However, an active Discovery+ subscription is required to tune in.
Team News
Chelsea breezed through the earlier stages of the Conference League, netting at least eight more goals than any other team during the league phase. Marc Guiu (six) and Christopher Nkunku (five) were the top scorers in that stage of the competition, although the goals have since evaporated to a large extent.
Maresca recently announced Guiu has been given the green light to return to training after being out since February with a hamstring issue. However, Thursday’s journey to Sweden might be too soon for the former Barcelona prodigy.
In more positive news, right-back Malo Gusto could make a comeback from injury at the 3Arena. However, Chelsea will still be missing long-term absentee Wesley Fofana in defence and suspended winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
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