Chelsea took a major step towards the Europa Conference League final with a confident 4-1 first-leg victory over Djurgarden in Stockholm, setting themselves up strongly ahead of next week’s return leg at Stamford Bridge.
Despite making eight changes to his starting XI with Sunday’s key Premier League clash against champions Liverpool in mind, manager Enzo Maresca’s reshuffled side showed no signs of disruption. First-half goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke put the Blues in control, before substitute Nicolas Jackson added a second-half brace to all but seal the tie.
Sancho opened the scoring in the 12th minute, chesting down an Enzo Fernandez cross at the back post before slotting home with a little help from Marcus Danielson’s sliced clearance. Madueke then doubled Chelsea’s lead two minutes before the break, finishing neatly at the near post after another incisive pass from Fernandez.
The visitors’ dominance wasn’t diminished by the artificial surface at the 3Arena, which had raised pre-match concerns for Maresca. Instead, Chelsea controlled possession and chances throughout.
After the break, Maresca introduced several regular starters, including Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson. The latter capitalised on a calamitous mix-up between Danielson and goalkeeper Jacob Rinne to make it 3-0, before curling in a superb effort from the edge of the box just six minutes later to increase the lead.
Teenager Isak Alemayehu gave the home fans a moment to cheer with a well-taken header in the 68th minute — his first senior goal — but it’s likely little more than consolation as Chelsea head into the second leg with a commanding advantage.
Victory in the competition would make Chelsea the first club to win all three major UEFA trophies: the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.
All signs now point to a place in the Wrocław final on 28 May — barring a dramatic turnaround.
