Chelsea have made good on their status as heavy favourites to win the UEFA Conference League, moving to the brink of the final.
Enzo Maresca rotated his lineup, as he has all season in Europe’s third-tier competition, and his players cruised to a 4-1 first-leg win over Swedish side Djurgarden.
A 3-1 win over freshly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool last weekend should ensure a feelgood atmosphere as the Blues conclude their procession.
Whoever prevails will head to Worclaw, Poland for the final on Wednesday, May 28.
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Chelsea vs. Djurgarden lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Chelsea’s key clash with Newcastle United in the battle for a top-five finish in the Premier League on May 11 and their very agreeable position in this tie means Marsesca is set to give fringe players and youngsters another chance to enjoy themselves.
Jadon Sancho’s time at Chelsea might be coming to an end, but the on-loan Manchester United winger should feature alongside the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and youngsters Tyrique George, Shumaira Mheuka and Mathis Amougou.
Christopher Nkunku has scored five times in nine Conference League outings this season but is sidelined alongside Wesley Fofana and Marc Guiu
Chelsea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Jorgensen (GK) — Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Gusto — James, Amougou — Sancho, Dewsbury-Hall, Mheuka — George
Injured: Nkunku (undisc.), Guiu (hamstring), Fofana (muscle), Kellyman (hamstring).
Suspended: None.
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A weighty injury list has made an already thankless task for Djurgarden even more bleak.
First-choice goalkeeper Filip Manojlovic is not registered for European competition and Jacob Rinne is likely to start with the gloves because Malkolm Nilsson has an elbow injury.
Zakaria Sawo, Matias Siltanen and Albin Ekdal are also ineligible.
Djurgarden predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Rinne (GK) — Stahl, Larsson, Danielson, Kosugi — Finndell, Stensson, Gulliksen — Haarala, Nguen, Priske
Injured: Aslund (foot), Ekdal (thigh), Safqvist (elbow), Zugelj (foot), Johansson (ACL), Schuller (thigh), Fallenius (undisc.)
Ineligible: Manojlovic, Sawo, Siltanen, Ekdal
Suspended: None.
Chelsea vs. Djurgarden live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Conference League semifinal second leg across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
