Chelsea have one foot in the UEFA Conference League final thanks to a 4-1 win against Djurgardens IF in the first leg of their semi-final at 3Arena on Thursday night.
Enzo Maresca's men had to weather the storm in the early minutes of the clash as the hosts won a number of physical duels, perhaps owing to the emotion of the occasion, but the Blues opened the scoring through Jadon Sancho with only 12 minutes on the clock.
Additionally, there was some concern pre-match about playing on an artificial pitch of questionable quality, and while the flow of the ball was affected, the visitors produced some excellent moves and doubled their advantage through Noni Madueke just before the break.
Two goals to the good and with a highlight clash against Liverpool at the weekend, the Chelsea boss made a number of changes at half time, bringing on Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Trevor Chalobah.
While the substitutes allowed players like Reece James to have their minutes managed, they did disrupt the rhythm that the Premier League club had built up and enabled Jarnkaminerna to regain their footing and force Filip Jorgensen into action.
That being said, service resumed when an error at the back allowed Jackson to make it 3-0, and the striker added a fourth with a fantastic strike into the top left corner that made Isak Alemayehu's first senior goal nothing more than a consolation for the home crowd.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
In addition to having a squad that were considered 44 times less valuable than Chelsea's, Jani Honkavaara's Djurgardens were dealing with a major injury crisis and were forced to name a number of untested teenagers on the bench after producing only 14 fit seniors players.
That being said, the manager will be ruing his team's missed chances in the last 15 minutes that could have set up a tense finish and gave them a spirited chance next week.
As for favourites Chelsea, they set a new club record by winning six consecutive European away games for first time, and Maresca will be pleased with his teams' professionalism despite consistently facing opposition that they would be expected to beat.
Thursday night also marked the fifth time that Chelsea have scored four or more goals in the Conference League this season and extended their lead as the top scorers in the competition with 37, nine more than Fiorentina's 28.
Focus will now shift to the Premier League clash against confirmed champions Liverpool this weekend after Nottingham Forest were beaten by Brentford, and the Blues will be hoping to secure a place in the Champions League for next season.
DJURGARDENS IF VS. CHELSEA HIGHLIGHTS
Jadon Sancho goal vs. Djurgardens IF (12th min, Djurgardens IF 0-1 Chelsea)
Chelsea take the lead in Sweden, and it's Jadon Sancho 🤩
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Ball over from Enzo Fernandez, and Sancho settles before firing past the goalkeeper via a Djurgårdens defender ⚽️
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Chelsea work the ball down the right flank before Enzo Fernandez picks out Sancho alone near the back post, and the winger takes a touch before slotting into the bottom-right corner.
Noni Madueke goal vs. Djurgardens IF (43rd min, Djurgardens IF 0-2 Chelsea)
It's advantage Chelsea now, as Noni Madueke makes it 2-0 in Sweden, finishing off a fine move ⚽️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 1, 2025
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall dribbles forward and plays a reverse pass into Fernandez from the left-hand side of the Blues' midfield, and the number eight lays a nicely weighted ball to winger Madueke, who puts his side two up with a precise shot into the bottom-right corner.
Nicolas Jackson goal vs. Djurgardens IF (59th min, Djurgardens IF 0-3 Chelsea)
A huge mix-up at the back for Djurgårdens, and Nicolas Jackson is on hand to take full advantage of the gift and tap home Chelsea's 3rd! ⚽️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 1, 2025
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Djurgardens squander the momentum they were building after the break by gifting Chelsea a third goal.
Substitute Jackson never gives up what seems to be a lost cause when the ball is rolling back towards the goalkeeper, but the striker gets in front of centre-back Marcus Danielson, drags the ball to the side and finishes into an empty net.
Nicolas Jackson goal vs. Djurgardens IF (65th min, Djurgardens IF 0-4 Chelsea)
Jackson scores his third goal in two games in style.
Caicedo intercepts a Djurgardens pass and the ball falls to Jackson, who drags it beyond the defender before shooting with his left foot from the edge of the box, striking across his own body and placing it into the top-right corner with power.
Isak Alemayehu goal vs. Chelsea (68th min, Djurgardens IF 1-4 Chelsea)
Djurgårdens get one back! Alemayehu arrives at the back post to head into the back of the net to give the Swedish side some hope! ⚽️
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The 19-year-old pulls one back for the hosts!
Tobias Gulliksen runs onto an incisive pass on the left-hand side of Chelsea's box and clips a cross to the back post, where young substitute Alemayehu times his jump to perfection and heads the ball down, bouncing into the net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MOISES CAICEDO
© Imago
While fellow midfielder Fernandez set the tone in the first 45, it was Caicedo that steadied the ship in the second by competing against a spirited Djurgardens side that had initially found some joy after Chelsea made four substitutions at half time.
Additionally, Caicedo's hard, combative work led to Jackson's second goal, and the cushion that the Blues' fourth gave them could be invaluable.
DJURGARDENS IF VS. CHELSEA MATCH STATS
Possession: Djurgardens IF 42%-58% Chelsea
Shots: Djurgardens IF 16-12 Chelsea
Shots on target: Djurgardens IF 5-7 Chelsea
Corners: Djurgardens IF 3-4 Chelsea
Fouls: Djurgardens IF 10-8 Chelsea
BEST STATS
Jadon Sancho with his first European goal for Chelsea 🔵 pic.twitter.com/arUdRW8Oqi
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 1, 2025
No goals in 13 games, and then 3 in his last 2 games ⚽️⚽️⚽️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 1, 2025
Nicolas Jackson is back 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1CnAOWU5Ng
WHAT NEXT?
Djurgardens will host AIK in the Swedish Allsvenskan on Sunday, before travelling to Stamford Bridge for the second leg next week.
Meanwhile, Chelsea welcome Liverpool to London this weekend for what could be a crucial match in the race for European football in the Premier League.
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