Match Preview: Chelsea aim for quarter finals with backing of home tie vs Copenhagen

Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge with a narrow 2-1 lead over Copenhagen as they look to book their place in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals.

Enzo Maresca’s side are the heavy favourites to win the tournament and will be confident of finishing the job, especially after winning their last three matches across all competitions, scoring seven goals while conceding just one.

Chelsea’s Dominance in the Conference League

The Blues have been flawless in this competition, winning all seven matches in the main draw, including three high-scoring home victories where they netted at least four goals in each.

While their 1-0 win over Leicester at the weekend wasn’t the most convincing, Chelsea have only lost once at home since their Premier League opener against Manchester City (W14, D4).

With their strong defensive record and attacking firepower, Chelsea will look to control the game early, knowing that simply avoiding defeat will guarantee qualification.

Copenhagen’s Uphill Battle

Copenhagen face a historic challenge in this fixture. No Danish side has ever beaten Chelsea (D2, L5), and the visitors have never defeated an English team away from home.

Their only two victories over English opposition came on home soil (D5, L11).

To make matters worse, their recent form has dipped, with a 1-1 draw against Sønderjyske at the weekend costing them top spot in the Danish Superliga.

That result extended their winless streak to three matches (D2, L1), making it even harder to believe they can pull off an upset.

However, they have won two of their last three away matches in this competition, offering some hope.

Key Battles & Tactical Approach

Chelsea’s clinical finishing vs Copenhagen’s defensive resilience: The Blues have been ruthless in front of goal in the Conference League, but Copenhagen must stay compact and limit chances if they want to stand a chance.
Copenhagen’s set-piece threat: Gabriel Pereira’s header in the first leg highlighted Chelsea’s occasional vulnerability in the air. The visitors may look to exploit set-piece situations again.
Cole Palmer’s impact: Chelsea’s young star was added to the Conference League squad for the knockouts but has gone over two months without scoring. Can he rediscover his early-season form?

Players to Watch

Cole Palmer (Chelsea): Despite missing a penalty at the weekend, Palmer remains a key playmaker for the Blues. His last three goals have all opened the scoring before the 20th minute.
Gabriel Pereira (Copenhagen): Scored Copenhagen’s only goal in the first leg, and all three of his goals for the club have come from headers—a potential danger Chelsea must be wary of.

Potential Lineups:

Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 – Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile; Enzo, Caicedo; Palmer, Drewsbury-Hall, George; Nkunku

Copenhagen: 4-4-1-1 – Ramaj; Diks, Gabriel Pereira Hatzidiakos, Meling; Huescas, Clem, Froholdt, Achouri; Claesson; Chiakha.

Key Stats

Chelsea have won all seven games in the Conference League this season.
Copenhagen have never won an away match against English opposition (D5, L11).
Chelsea have only lost once at Stamford Bridge since August (W14, D4).
Copenhagen are winless in their last three matches across all competitions (D2, L1).

Where to watch:

United Kingdom: TNT Sports

United States: Paramount+ & ViX

Canada: DAZN Canada

India: Sony Sports Network

Australia: beIN Sports.

Nigeria: SuperSports.

Score Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Copenhagen