Chelsea FC is set to face Legia Warszawa in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League quarterfinal on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET at Stamford Bridge in London, England. The match promises to be an exciting encounter as Chelsea looks to secure their spot in the semifinals after a commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg held in Warsaw last week.
The Blues established their lead thanks to a stellar performance from young talents. Tyrique George opened the scoring with his first senior goal for Chelsea early in the second half, and Noni Madueke, who came on as a halftime substitute, added two more goals to seal the deal. Chelsea's impressive form in the Conference League has seen them remain undefeated this season since qualifying for the League Phase, raising hopes among fans that they can continue their journey towards silverware.
However, Chelsea's recent form in the Premier League has not been as strong, as they were held to a draw by Ipswich Town in their last outing. Despite the setback, manager Enzo Maresca remains optimistic about his team's chances. "We try to prioritize always the next match," Maresca stated in his pre-match press conference. "The next match is tomorrow night that for us is an important game because it can give us the opportunity to reach a semi-final in a European competition. So that is the first one and then hopefully we can reach the semi-final and focus on Sunday’s game [against Fulham]."
As Chelsea prepares for this crucial match, they have received a boost with the return of midfielder Romeo Lavia to team training. However, he will not be available for selection on Thursday as he was not included in the squad for the Conference League.
On the other side, Legia Warszawa's coach, Gonçalo Feio, is determined to improve upon their performance in the first leg. "We want to give a better performance than we did in the first leg, that's what we're focused on," Feio said. "Do we believe we can reach the semifinals? This is sport. The line between faith and madness is very fine. However, the result in Warsaw took us far away from our objective. Our goal is to perform at a better level."
Legia will be looking to make a statement in this match, as they strive to represent Polish football well and earn more points for qualification. Feio emphasized the importance of this match, stating, "We have a lot to prove in this match. We are the biggest club in Poland, and that's what we have to prove here. We need to represent Polish football well and earn more points for qualification. We have a good opportunity to write a beautiful page in Legia's history."
Kickoff for the match is set for 3:00 PM ET, with fans in the United States able to watch the game on ESPN or stream it live through Disney+. The match will also be broadcasted in various countries at different times, including 3:00 PM in Argentina and Brazil, 2:00 PM in Bolivia and Chile, and 1:00 PM in Colombia and Ecuador.
As for the expected lineups, Chelsea could field Robert Sánchez in goal, supported by a defense featuring Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella. The midfield may consist of Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and Noni Madueke, with Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Nicolás Jackson leading the attack.
Legia Warszawa is likely to line up with Kacper Tobiasz in goal and a defense comprising Radovan Pankov, Jan Ziólkowski, Steve Kapuadi, and Rúben Vinagre. Their midfield could include Maxi Oyedele, Kacper Chodyna, Juergen Elitim, and Ryoya Morishita, with Luquinhas and Ilya Shkurin up front.
Legia comes into this match after suffering a narrow defeat to Jaggiellonia Bialystok in the Ekstraklasa, which adds pressure as they look to turn their fortunes around in this European competition. Chelsea, meanwhile, will aim to shake off their Premier League draw and focus on maintaining their perfect record in the Conference League.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, excitement builds around Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fans are hopeful that their team can continue their successful run in the Conference League and advance to the semifinals. With both teams eager to prove themselves, this matchup promises to deliver thrilling football.
With the stakes high and a place in the semifinals on the line, both Chelsea and Legia Warszawa will be looking to make their mark. Can Chelsea maintain their dominance, or will Legia pull off a stunning upset? The answer awaits as the teams take to the pitch for what is sure to be a memorable clash in the UEFA Conference League.
