Chelsea Welcomes Copenhagen for Crucial Conference League Clash at Stamford Bridge

LONDON, England — Chelsea FC is set to face FC Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night in the second leg of their Round of 16 UEFA Conference League matchup, having secured a 2-1 aggregate lead from the first leg last week.

Manager Enzo Maresca‘s side will look to solidify their position in the quarter-finals. Chelsea edged out a narrow victory on the road last week, and now they aim to finish the job on their home turf. If they advance, they will encounter the winner of the Molde and Legia Warsaw matchup.

“We have to maintain our focus and not allow Copenhagen to spring any surprises,” Maresca said in a pre-match press conference. “Even though we have a lead, we need a professional performance at home.”

However, Chelsea will be without right-back Malo Gusto, who is sidelined after sustaining a knock in the first leg. Maresca has named Filip Jorgensen to start in goal, alongside defenders Reece James and Cole Palmer who return after overcoming recent fitness issues. “They weren’t present in training earlier this week, but they have improved and are ready to contribute,” Maresca confirmed.

Chelsea has been in solid form, winning three consecutive matches, including a 1-0 victory over Leicester City last weekend. On the contrary, Copenhagen has struggled, with no wins in their last three matches, including the recent draws that have cost them their position at the top of the Danish Superliga.

In injury news, Chelsea’s forward Nicolas Jackson, 18-year-old Marc Guiu, and Noni Madueke remain unavailable. Similarly, goalkeeper Malo Gusto is still recovering from his injury. Despite these setbacks, Maresca has expressed confidence in his squad to execute their game plan effectively.

Copenhagen, meanwhile, will have to contend with absences as well—star players Roony Bardghji, Andreas Cornelius, and key midfielder Lukas Lerager are sidelined due to various injuries. Coach Jacob Neestrup noted the challenges ahead and emphasized the need for the remaining squad members to step up. “We may have a few players out, but those who are available know the importance of this match. We are ready for the challenge,” he said.

The starting lineups for both teams were announced earlier today: Chelsea’s XI includes Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Caicedo, Fernandez, George, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho, and Neto. The Copenhagen lineup features Ramaj, Diks, Gabriel, Hatzidiakos, Claesson, Elyounoussi, Heuscas, Froholdt, Meling, Achouri, and Clem.

With just a few hours until kickoff, anticipation is building among fans as Chelsea aims to close the door on any upset and secure their advancement in the tournament.