2024-25 UEFA Conference League Round of 16: First Leg – Copenhagen vs Chelsea

Copenhagen host Chelsea in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2024-25 UEFA Conference League.

Copenhagen overcame Heidenheim in their knockout play-off tie to reach this round, whilst Chelsea progressed as league phase winners to this stage and bypassed the knockout play-offs.

 

Team News

Copenhagen have no fresh injury concerns but will be without Roony Bardghji due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Chelsea could welcome Trevoh Chalobah back after he missed their league win over Southampton due to a back injury.

Benoit Badiashile (thigh) could return but Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Marc Guiu, Romeo Lavia (both muscle), Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke and Omari Kellyman (all hamstring) are still ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Copenhagen host Chelsea at Parken Stadium on Thursday 6 March at 6:45pm CET (5:45pm UK Time), live on TNT Sports 4 in the UK

 

Stat Attack

• This is Copenhagen’s first Conference League meeting against Chelsea.
• Chelsea have won each of their two previous visits to Copenhagen in all UEFA competitions without conceding (W2).
• Chelsea have kept clean sheets in three of their four previous meetings against Copenhagen in all UEFA competitions.
• Copenhagen kept one clean sheet in their last four home games in this competition (W1, D1, L2).
• Enzo Maresca’s Blues kept just one clean sheet on the road in their three away league phase fixtures (W3).

 

Prediction

Having suffered just one defeat since their return from Danish football’s mid-season break last month, Copenhagen certainly can’t be underestimated if they can bring their best attacking game and mount a solid defensive effort.

Chelsea meanwhile have had a full week to prepare for this game after their unsurprising victory over a lacklustre Southampton, so I do expect them to come out and try to play their possession-based play but they will need to produce more creativity than they’ve done in their last seven away games in all competitions.

If Chelsea do make that improvement then they should win this especially given their away form in this fixture, but Copenhagen should look to try and keep this tie in the balance going into the return leg.

Prediction: Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea

Result: Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea