How to watch Djurgarden v Chelsea, team news, pre-match quotes, predicted line-ups and more | OneFootball

Chelsea travel to Stockholm to face Djurgaden in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League semi-finals on Thursday night.

The two sides have never met each other before and the Swedish side have only faced English opposition once in their history. Djurgarden lost 7-2 on aggregate to Man United back in 1964 in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea are huge favourites in tonight’s match. The Blues have cruised through the Conference League up to this point and most expect them to go all the way in the competition. However, the game will take place on artificial grass and that could provide some challenges for the English visitors.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the clash…

Kick-off time

8pm BST

How to watch in the UK

TNT Sports 4 or streaming on Discovery+

Injuries and doubts

Djurgarden: Patric Aslund (out), Oskar Fallenius (out), Rasmus Schuller (out), Nino Zugelj (out), Malkolm Nilsson (out), Jacob Rinne (doubt)

Djurgarden’s squad has been weakened by a number of injuries. The Swedes are missing a number of key players but they will desperately hope that Jacob Rinne is fit to play. The goalkeeper has been struggling with illness but could recover in time to start.

Chelsea: Wesley Fofana (out), Marc Guiu (out), Christopher Nkunku (out), Robert Sanchez (out), Malo Gusto (doubt), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended)

Christopher Nkunku and Robert Sanchez have suffered knocks and will not be available. Enzo Maresca confirmed that the duo are not with the squad that has traveled to Sweden.

Predicted line-ups

Djurgarden (4-2-3-1): Rinne; Stahl, Larsson, Danielson, Kpsugi; Stensson, Finndell; Haarala, Friske, Gulliksen; Nguen

Chelsea (4-2-3–1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarbioyo, Badiashile, Cucurella; James, Dewsbury-Hall; Sancho, Palmer, George; Jackson

Recent form

Djurgarden have finished fourth in the last two editions of the Swedish Allsvenkan. They are currently 11th, although they are only five games into the season. To reach the semi-finals of the Conference League, Djurgarden have overturned deficits in the second legs of both of their ties against Pafos and Rapid Vienna.

After their form stagnated, Chelsea have returned to winning ways in the Premier League. They have won their last two, although not in particularly impressive fashion. They suffered a home defeat against Legia Warsaw last time out in the Conference League. Nevertheless, their 3-0 lead from the first leg was sufficient to ensure that they reached the semi-finals.

What’s been said?

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said: “For sure now that we are in the semi-final, the next target is the final, and then once, if we are able to reach the final, we go for the title that personally for me is a big title.

“It’s a huge title, because it’s a European competition, and as I said, we can give this club the opportunity to be the only club in the world to win all the European competitions, so it’s also a responsibility for me, a responsibility for the players to get that.”

Djurgarden boss Jani Honkavaara insisted: “They have more midfielders than we have players in the squad.”