Last updated on April 30, 2025
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For Djurgården, this is uncharted territory.
Image credit: one sports
Chelsea are back in European semi-final territory, but this time it’s not the glamour of the Champions League—it’s the gritty, often overlooked UEFA Europa Conference League.
Still, for Enzo Maresca and his players, it could be their golden ticket to a trophy this season.
The journey continues this Thursday as they travel to Sweden to face Djurgårdens IF in the first leg of the semi-final.
Swedish History in the Making
For Djurgården, this is uncharted territory.
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The Stockholm-based club has already made history by reaching their first-ever European semi-final.
They’ve done it the hard way—beating Pafos in the last 16, and then edging past Rapid Vienna in a dramatic quarter-final that saw Tobias Gulliksen net a stoppage-time brace in extra time.
They’re dreaming of becoming the first Swedish team to win a European trophy since IFK Göteborg lifted the UEFA Cup in 1987.
Djurgården may be underdogs, but they’ve won six of their eight European home games this season.
The Tele2 Arena is no easy ground for visitors.
Chelsea: All Eyes on Silverware
Chelsea, on the other hand, are in search of a season-defining moment.
Their Premier League form has improved—five matches unbeaten, including a gritty 1-0 win over Everton—but with Champions League qualification still uncertain, the Conference League offers a more straightforward path to silverware.
#NextMatch! Djurgarden vs. Chelsea. #UECL #Chelsea pic.twitter.com/v6wif57jWy
— Blue Season Daily (@BlueSeasonDaily) April 29, 2025
They comfortably dispatched Legia Warsaw in the quarter-finals, despite losing the second leg at home.
Maresca’s men have also been formidable away from home in Europe, winning all five of their Conference League away games, with 14 goals scored and only three conceded.
Injury Concerns and Squad Rotation
Both teams are juggling injuries.
Djurgården could be without key players like Rasmus Schüller and Patric Åslund, while Chelsea are missing Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman, and Marc Guiu. Mykhaylo Mudryk remains suspended, and Malo Gusto is a fitness doubt.
Expect Chelsea to rotate—Filip Jorgensen, Josh Acheampong, and Benoît Badiashile could get starts, with Reece James and Jadon Sancho also likely to feature.
The Swedes, meanwhile, will rely heavily on the in-form Gulliksen and the home crowd’s energy.
Prediction: Djurgården 1-3 Chelsea
Djurgården will give everything in front of their fans, but Chelsea’s quality and depth should see them through.
A composed, professional performance should set the Blues up well for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
