Chelsea will aim to move closer to a European title as they face Djurgarden in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League. The Blues are clear favourites to win UEFA’s third-tier competition, and they have only lost one game in a dominant campaign. Enzo Maresca’s side are expected to go all the way and win some silverware, performing at a level well above their opponents. However, despite progressing from the quarter-finals, a shock defeat at home to Legia Warsaw will have created some small doubts.
Djurgarden are the next side in Chelsea’s way and they will fancy themselves to head home for the second leg with a lead. But the Swedish side, who are in their first ever European semi-final, are going to try and make it as hard as possible for their Premier League opponents.
This Europa Conference League semi-final first leg took place on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the 3Arena in Stockholm, with kick-off at 8pm UK time. The game was broadcast live on TNT Sports 4 in the UK.
In the build-up to the match, Djurgarden’s route to the semi-finals included results against LASK (2-2), Vitoria (1-2), Panathanaikos (2-1), TNS (0-1), Vikingur (1-2), Legia Warsaw (3-1), Pafos (1-0, 3-0 on aggregate), and Rapid Vienna (0-1, 1-4 AET, 2-4 on aggregate). Chelsea's path to the semi-finals featured wins against Gent (4-2), Panathanaikos (1-4), Noah (8-0), Heidenheim (0-2), Astana (1-3), Shamrock Rovers (5-1), Copenhagen (1-2, 1-0, 3-1 on aggregate), and Legia Warsaw (0-3, 1-2, 4-2 on aggregate).
As the match unfolded, Chelsea defeated Djurgarden 4-1 in Stockholm in the first leg of the Conference League semi-final. Enzo Fernández made early goals for Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke, while Nicolas Jackson scored twice in the second half after coming off the bench. Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta scored for Djurgarden, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
The match began with Chelsea asserting dominance early on. Sancho opened the scoring after just 13 minutes, capitalizing on a defensive error from Marcus Danielson, who mishandled a goalline clearance. Chelsea continued to press, and Fernández's incisive play set up Madueke to double the lead in the 43rd minute.
With the score at 2-0, Chelsea fans were buoyed by news that Nottingham Forest, rivals for one of England’s five Champions League spots, were losing at home to Brentford. Djurgarden, on the other hand, faced an uphill battle as they struggled to contain Chelsea's attacking prowess.
In the second half, Chelsea made several substitutions, bringing on Jackson, Palmer, Trevoh Chalobah, and Moisés Caicedo at halftime. The changes paid off as Jackson quickly made his mark, tapping into an empty net in the 59th minute following a defensive mix-up. Just six minutes later, he scored again, showcasing his finishing ability with a well-placed shot beyond Djurgarden's goalkeeper, Jacob Rinne.
Despite the scoreline, Djurgarden's fans remained vocal and supportive, and their team managed to pull one back when Alemayehu scored in the 75th minute, capitalizing on a cross from Tobias Gulliksen. However, Chelsea's lead was already too substantial, and they cruised to victory.
Following the match, Chelsea's goalkeeper Jorgensen commented on the expectations surrounding the team: “I think they do, and probably a lot of people around the world think this too. They expect us to win as we should. Of course, football is unpredictable, but we will do our best to win it.”
Looking ahead, the second leg of the semi-final will take place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in England, where Chelsea will look to secure their place in the final. Djurgarden, despite their loss, will aim to rally and put forth a strong performance at home.
As for the competition as a whole, Chelsea's record transfer stands at £1bn in the space of three years, contrasting sharply with Djurgarden's record transfer of just £1.5m. This financial disparity highlights the challenges faced by smaller clubs in European competitions, but Djurgarden's historic run has captured the hearts of their supporters.
In conclusion, Chelsea's impressive victory sets them up nicely for the return leg, while Djurgarden will need to regroup and find a way to overcome the odds if they hope to advance further in the tournament.
