Chelsea vs. Copenhagen | Conference League | Round of 16 | 2nd Leg | Pre Match
Chelsea vs. Copenhagen
Chelsea head into the second leg of their Conference League last-16 tie against Copenhagen on Thursday night at Stamford Bridge with a slender 2-1 advantage from the first leg, a result that keeps them firmly in the driver’s seat to advance to the quarter-finals and face either Molde or Legia Warsaw. Enzo Maresca’s side has been a juggernaut in the competition thus far, winning all six of their League Phase matches before edging out Copenhagen in Denmark last week, thanks to goals from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez. However, a late, “sloppy” concession— as Maresca described it—allowed Copenhagen to pull one back, injecting a flicker of hope into the Danish side’s campaign and ensuring the tie remains alive heading into the return leg. That narrow victory in Copenhagen was followed by a gritty 1-0 Premier League win over Leicester City on Sunday, where Marc Cucurella’s header secured three points and a clean sheet, despite Cole Palmer missing his first-ever penalty in a game overshadowed by his pre-match illness. This three-game winning streak across all competitions has propelled Chelsea back into the Premier League’s top four, two points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester City and seven clear of Fulham in 10th with 10 games remaining, keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive. Before a blockbuster clash with Arsenal on Sunday—their final outing before the international break—Maresca will demand focus and precision to dispatch Copenhagen and secure Chelsea’s 15th quarter-final appearance in a major UEFA competition, a milestone that would further cement their resurgence under the Italian’s stewardship. Stamford Bridge has been a fortress in the Conference League, with four wins from four (including qualifiers) by an aggregate score of 19-3, and just one home loss in all competitions since an opening-day defeat to Manchester City (14 wins, four draws), making it a daunting venue for Copenhagen’s uphill battle.
Copenhagen, trailing by a single goal, face a Herculean task if they are to avoid a repeat of their last-16 exit in the 2021-22 Conference League and keep their European journey alive, with head coach Jacob Neestrup candidly admitting that his team must “do everything we can to create a little miracle” against a formidable Chelsea outfit. The Danish giants have shown they can stage a comeback in this competition, having overturned a one-goal deficit in the playoff round to defeat Heidenheim 4-3 on aggregate, clinching a 3-1 away win in the second leg after forcing extra time just under a month ago. Their road form in the Conference League since its inception four seasons ago is nothing short of impressive—nine wins, four draws, and just one loss in 14 away matches (including qualifiers), with two or more goals scored in nine of those outings. This attacking prowess on their travels offers a glimmer of hope as they prepare to face Chelsea, though history weighs heavily against them: no Danish team has ever beaten the Blues (two draws, five losses), and Copenhagen have never triumphed on English soil, their only victories against English opposition—both against Manchester United—coming at home in the Danish capital (five draws, 11 losses). Neestrup’s side arrives in London on the back of a patchy run, winning just two of their last seven games in 90 minutes across all competitions, with consecutive Danish Superliga draws against AaB (0-0) and SonderjyskE (1-1) last weekend costing them top spot to FC Midtjylland. Despite this inconsistency, Copenhagen’s European pedigree and resilience suggest they won’t roll over, and they’ll need every ounce of that fighting spirit to upset a Chelsea team riding a wave of momentum and bolstered by their Stamford Bridge dominance.
Chelsea’s path to the quarter-finals is paved with both opportunity and challenges, as Maresca navigates a squad depleted by injuries but brimming with talent eager to shine on the European stage. The Blues will be without Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, and Marc Guiu—all sidelined with hamstring issues—alongside the suspended Mykhaylo Mudryk, while Reece James (illness) and Malo Gusto (ankle) are doubtful after missing the Leicester win, with their availability to be assessed closer to kickoff. Cole Palmer, despite feeling unwell last week, is expected to start in an advanced midfield role, his creativity and goal threat vital even after his penalty miss against Leicester—a rare blemish in an otherwise stellar season. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyrique George, who started in Denmark, will push for recalls, adding dynamism to a midfield that has been a cornerstone of Chelsea’s Conference League success. Up top, 17-year-old Shumaira Mheuka, who made history as Chelsea’s youngest starter in a major European competition at 17 years and 137 days in the first leg, could again lead the line, though Christopher Nkunku—capable of playing centrally or on the flanks—offers a versatile alternative. Since Maresca took charge, Chelsea have blended youth and experience seamlessly, their perfect Conference League record a testament to his rotation strategy and the squad’s depth. The Leicester win, while not a vintage performance, showcased their growing defensive solidity—crucial against a Copenhagen side that thrives on the road—and with Stamford Bridge’s electric atmosphere behind them, Chelsea are poised to finish the job, leveraging their 19-3 aggregate home scoring record in the competition to bury Copenhagen’s faint hopes of a miracle.
Copenhagen’s quest for an improbable turnaround is hampered by a lengthy injury list and a suspension that could disrupt their tactical setup, testing Neestrup’s ability to rally his troops for one last stand. Andreas Cornelius, Lukas Lerager, and Oliver Hojer (all unspecified injuries), Nicolai Boilesen (knee), and Kevin Diks (ankle) remain sidelined, while teenage star Roony Bardghji, nearing a return from a long-term ACL injury, won’t recover in time for Thursday. Thomas Delaney’s illness makes him a doubt, with a late call pending, and Marcos Lopez’s suspension due to yellow-card accumulation forces a change at left-back or left wing-back, likely filled by Birger Meling. Gabriel Pereira, who scored in the first leg, will anchor the defense, while 18-year-old Amin Chiakha could again start up top, supported by the crafty Viktor Claesson and Elias Achouri in attack. Copenhagen’s playoff heroics against Heidenheim—turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-1 second-leg win—highlight their capacity to defy the odds away from home, and their nine Conference League road victories since 2021-22 underscore a knack for performing under pressure. Yet, facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where the Blues have lost just once all season, is a different beast entirely. Neestrup will likely adopt a counter-attacking approach, banking on Chiakha’s energy and Claesson’s guile to exploit any gaps, but their defensive fragility—evident in recent domestic draws—could prove fatal against Chelsea’s relentless attack, even with the hosts missing key forwards.
As of March 13, 2025, this Conference League clash pits Chelsea’s burgeoning resurgence against Copenhagen’s gritty resolve, with the stakes heightened by the prospect of a quarter-final berth. Chelsea’s perfect run—six League Phase wins and a first-leg victory—positions them as favorites, their Stamford Bridge fortress (14 wins, four draws, one loss across all competitions) a daunting hurdle for Copenhagen to overcome. Maresca’s men, buoyed by consecutive Premier League wins and a top-four spot, see this as a chance to solidify their European credentials, their 15th quarter-final appearance in sight. Copenhagen, meanwhile, cling to their road-warrior reputation and a history of comebacks, but their Danish hoodoo against Chelsea and winless record in England loom large. With Palmer pulling the strings and the Williams-esque exuberance of Mheuka up top, Chelsea hold the edge, while Copenhagen’s depleted squad and Neestrup’s “miracle” plea reflect the uphill battle ahead. Stamford Bridge will roar, the tension will mount, and by night’s end, one side will march toward Molde or Legia Warsaw, while the other will rue what might have been in this third-tier European odyssey.
