Conference League
2025-05-08 - Chelsea vs Djurgarden
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Conference League Semi Final Second Leg
Thursday 8th May 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Chelsea
The big win in the Conference League Semi Final First Leg has put Chelsea in total command of the tie and they should have little issue in securing passage to the Final on Thursday. The European commitments are clearly important to manager Enzo Maresca, although Chelsea are also very much involved in the top five race domestically as they push for a return to the Champions League.
Following up the win over Djurgarden last Thursday with a 3-1 win over Champions Liverpool on Sunday has just put some serious momentum behind Chelsea with games ticking down. The Blues were upset by Legia Warsaw in the Conference League Quarter Final Second Leg, but Chelsea had won all 5 ties played at Stamford Bridge prior to that and the result is one that could have ensured stronger focus from the squad.
Chelsea have won 4 in a row in all competitions after the defeat by Legia Warsaw and the manager will be keen to keep that momentum behind the team ahead of another big Premier League fixture. The win over Liverpool on Sunday means Chelsea have won 8 of their last 10 at Stamford Bridge in all competitions.
Changes are likely to be made to the first eleven, but the manager has picked key players in the Knock Out Rounds and it may not be a heavy rotation used.
Djurgarden
They are struggling at the wrong end of the Swedish top flight and that alone would have told Djurgarden of the kind of challenge awaiting in this Conference League Semi Final. The hope was that the awkward playing surface in the home tie might have equalled things up, but Djurgarden were well beaten and need something of a miracle to win this Semi Final.
In the previous Round, Djurgarden were able to overturn a home defeat in the Second Leg at Rapid Vienna, but they were not three goals down on that occasion. The side have won 3 of their last 4 away Conference League games played, which offers some hope for the Djurgarden players.
Djurgarden have only lost 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions, but they have won twice in that run and will rarely have met a team of the quality of one that plays in the English Premier League. Encouragement can be taken from the fact that Djurgarden have won 2 of their last 3 on their travels in all competitions and did score four goals at Rapid Vienna in the Quarter Final, albeit after Extra Time.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting between the clubs hosted by Chelsea.
Prediction
A big game is coming up at St James' Park on Sunday and that is a potential distraction for the Chelsea players.
However, Enzo Maresca may try and keep some momentum going by picking a strong team as he has in the Conference League and Chelsea should be able to pick up from where they left off.
The layers anticipate the same and they are asking Chelsea to cover a big line, which is hard to back when you are not completely sure about the team selected. Even if a strong starting lineup is named, Maresca could choose to bring in younger players by half time and that could see some of the quality dip.
One player that may be given a bit more time on the field is Nicolas Jackson, who scored twice in the First Leg. Chelsea need their striker to be firing if they are going to earn a spot in the Champions League and Jackson has looked sharp in the last couple of game.
With the quality that is expected to start around him, Nicolas Jackson should have plenty of opportunities to add to the goals scored last weekend. Backing him to score anytime with Bet365 is important at a slightly shorter price as they allow the sub to come on and will pay out if that player scores.
The Pick :
Chelsea 3-0 Djurgarden
