Conference League

2025-05-01 - Djurgarden vs Chelsea

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Djurgarden v Chelsea
Football: UEFA Conference League Semi Final First Leg
Thursday 1st May 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Djurgarden

The introduction of the third European competition was designed to give those clubs from outside of the top Leagues an opportunity. With that in mind, Djurgarden have proven to be the surprise package of the Conference League in 2024/25 and they have reached the Semi Final of the competition despite having little European pedigree in their history.

All credit has to be given to a club that have not only negotiated three Qualifying Rounds back in August, but who performed well enough in the League Phase of the competition to avoid having to join the Play Off Round. They have lost the First Leg in the Last 16 and the Quarter Final in their Conference League run, but that has done little to dissuade Djurgarden who thumped Rapid Vienna 1-4 away from home in the last Round (albeit after Extra Time).

Djurgarden had won 1 of their previous 4 games in all competitions, but have warmed up for this big Semi Final by beating Oster 1-0 at home this past weekend. The side had failed to score in their previous 3 home games in all competitions and had lost twice before that victory on Sunday. Djurgarden have hosted 8 Conference League ties this season and have won 6 of those, although both exceptions did end in defeat, including in the Quarter Final First Leg against Rapid Vienna last month.

Chelsea

They may not have been at their most convincing best, but Chelsea recorded an important 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday and remain firmly in the battle for a top five finish. Some fans would expect the manager to prioritise the Premier League over the Conference League, but Enzo Maresca has begun to use some of his team top names with a trophy looming into view.

Balancing the Premier League and the Conference League has not been much of a challenge for the manager for much of the season, and Chelsea do have a big League game coming up on Sunday. Despite that, you have to believe a strong Chelsea squad will travel to Sweden and The Blues will be chasing a sixth away success in a row in the Conference League.

Chelsea have lost 1 of their last 7 games in all competitions since the March international break, although that was in the Conference League against Legia Warsaw in the Quarter Final Second Leg. That did not prevent Chelsea from moving through relatively comfortably, and they will be confident having beaten Legia Warsaw (0-3) and Fulham (1-2) in the last 2 away games played.

Malo Gusto is not expected to be fit and Enzo Maresca may choose to rotate his squad ahead of the Premier League game against Liverpool.

Head to Head

This is the first time these two clubs are meeting in a competitive fixture.

Prediction

From the outset of the Conference League, Chelsea have been set as odds on favourites to win the trophy and they have had little trouble getting into the Semi Final.

Enzo Maresca will be judged on the Premier League finish, but winning a trophy has to always be considered a success and the manager has begun to pick stronger teams in the Conference League.

Liverpool are coming up this weekend and so there is a bit more uncertainty as to the kind of team selection Enzo Maresca will make for this First Leg, although the Chelsea squad depth has proven too much for most to handle at this level of European competition.

Next up is Djurgarden who have been the surprise of the competition so far and who showed plenty of character to overcome a home defeat in the Quarter Final and beat Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital. Things went pretty well for Djurgarden from the outset with the home team reduced to ten men inside seven minutes, and even then the Swedish club needed a late goal in the second half and Extra Time to progress.

It would be foolish to suggest anything other than this is going to be a really tough challenge for the home team and even remaining competitive in the tie before the return Leg at Stamford Bridge could be beyond Djurgarden.

Despite changes that have been made, Chelsea have been very effective away from home in the Conference League and their quality should shine through in this one. It took a bit of time for that to happen in Warsaw in the last Round, but Chelsea were still far too good and they should have enough to move into a very strong position before the Second Leg at home next week.