Chelsea vs Djurgarden: Match Preview, Team News and Prediction | OneFootball

Chelsea Poised for Conference League Final as Djurgarden Struggle to Keep Up

On Thursday night, Stamford Bridge will once again play host to a Chelsea side beginning to find rhythm and focus in European competition. With a comfortable 4-1 first-leg victory over Djurgarden in the bag, the Blues approach the Conference League semi-final second leg with clear intent and commanding control.

Their display in Stockholm was clinical, if not ruthless. Djurgarden’s solitary strike, a consolation from Isak Alemayehu, offered a flicker of defiance, but in truth, Chelsea’s superiority was rarely threatened. Now, with a return to home soil and momentum from a recent win over Liverpool, the London club can sense a final on the horizon.

Team News: Injury Woes and Rising Stars

There’s a growing sense of belief at Stamford Bridge. Not least because of Cole Palmer, who ended his goalscoring drought with a composed penalty in the Liverpool win. His return to form only deepens the challenge for a Swedish side floundering domestically.

Enzo Maresca, carefully balancing fitness and form, has confirmed that Romeo Lavia will miss out due to being unregistered for the Conference League. Christopher Nkunku remains unavailable following a knock in training before the first leg. “He will miss 10 to 15 days,” Maresca confirmed — a timeline that likely rules him out until late May. Marc Guiu, recovering from a groin issue since January’s deadline day, will not feature either. Also missing are Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Omari Kellyman, and Wesley Fofana, both out with hamstring injuries.

Photo: IMAGO

The tournament has become a showcase for Chelsea’s youth system. Tyrique George, Josh Acheampong, and Reggie Walsh are expected to be given further European experience in this second leg.

Djurgarden, meanwhile, limp into west London nursing their own injury crisis. They were without seven senior players for their weekend draw against AIK — Piotr Johansson, Mikael Marques, Oskar Fallenius, Nino Zugelj, Rasmus Schüller, Patric Åslund, and Malkolm Nilsson Säfqvist. Encouragingly for the visitors, none of those injuries are new, and all were also absent for the first leg in Sweden.

Match Details and Where to Watch

Chelsea vs DjurgardenVenue: Stamford BridgeKick-off: 8pm BST, Thursday 8 May 2025

TV coverage (UK): Live on TNT Sports 3 from 7pmLive stream: Available via Discovery+ app and websiteHighlights: Post-match via Discovery+ app and TNT Sports YouTube channel

Prediction: Chelsea Set to Seal Progress

It’s difficult to build a case for Djurgarden’s comeback, admirable as their fight has been. Their early-season stumbles in the Allsvenskan, where they sit an unfamiliar 11th after six games, speak to a squad both under pressure and under strength.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have glided through this competition, their defeats to Servette and Legia Warsaw more footnotes than setbacks. In Stockholm, they dismantled Djurgarden with control, and while the Swedes may hope for a remontada, hope is rarely enough.

Expect a professional, perhaps polished performance. Chelsea win 3-0 (7-1 on aggregate).