Chelsea vs Djurgården was billed as a David vs Goliath semi-final, and the Premier League giants lived up to their billing with a commanding 4-1 away victory in Stockholm.
With a first-leg lead and one foot firmly in the Europa Conference League final, Enzo Maresca’s side look unstoppable after brushing aside Swedish underdogs Djurgården in emphatic fashion.
This clash was another reminder of the gap between Europe’s financial heavyweights and its smaller clubs. While Djurgården fought with heart and passion in front of a roaring home crowd, Chelsea’s £1bn squad quality proved far too much.
Goals from Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke, and a clinical brace from Nicolas Jackson sealed the deal before Isak Alemayehu’s consolation goal.
Early Goals, Early Control
It took the Blues just 13 minutes to silence the home crowd. A perfect pass from Enzo Fernández found Sancho, who chested the ball down and slotted it home, aided by a goal-line blunder from Djurgården’s defence. The tempo and precision of Chelsea’s play early on showed they meant business, and Djurgården struggled to cope.
Despite the artificial pitch and the vocal Swedish support, Chelsea’s tactical fluidity stood out. Tyrique George, the exciting 19-year-old, caused problems throughout the first half, drifting across the frontline and keeping the hosts pinned deep in their own half.
It wasn’t long before the lead was doubled. Fernández, playing in a more advanced No.10 role, slipped a clever ball through to Noni Madueke, who tucked his shot past Jacob Rinne to make it 2-0 before half-time.
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Djurgården Outclassed Despite Spirited Effort
For Djurgården, this semi-final clash was already historic—reaching their first European last four since the 1950s. But the gulf in class was clear. Their best chance in the first half came from a cross into the box that lacked a finish, while Chelsea continued to dominate possession and create openings.
The second half saw Nicolas Jackson introduced, and it quickly turned into a rout. Within 15 minutes, he had scored twice: first capitalising on a defensive error to tap in from close range, then curling a beautiful strike into the top corner just six minutes later. At 4-0, the game was done.
Still, Djurgården didn’t give up. A well-placed cross from Tobias Gulliksen found Isak Alemayehu, who headed past Filip Jorgensen to make it 4-1 and give the home fans something to cheer.
Chelsea’s Depth Shines in Europe
The tie highlighted just how deep and dangerous Chelsea’s squad has become under Maresca. Even with several key players rested ahead of the Premier League run-in, the Blues were dominant in every department.
Maresca brought on Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Jackson after half-time, showcasing the club’s depth and European ambition. With Reece James even operating in midfield, Maresca continues to show tactical flexibility that has kept Chelsea unbeaten in this competition.
Despite the easy win, the manager warned against complacency. “We dropped off after 70 minutes,” he said. “You can’t afford that in Europe. We saw what happened against Legia Warsaw at home—we must stay focused to finish the job.”
After this match first-leg demolition, it would take a miracle for the Swedes to overturn the result in London. Chelsea are now overwhelming favourites to reach the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw, where they’ll face either Fiorentina or Real Betis.
While the Conference League may be seen as UEFA’s third-tier competition, it has become a key goal for Chelsea’s rebuilding phase. Winning the trophy not only adds silverware to Maresca’s first season but could also help secure a spot in next season’s expanded Champions League—especially with England battling for that fifth place.
Chelsea vs Djurgården: Match Stats at a Glance
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Possession: Chelsea 62% – Djurgården 38%
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Shots on target: Chelsea 8 – Djurgården 3
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Goals: Sancho 12′, Madueke 43′, Jackson 59′, 65′ – Alemayehu 68′
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Expected goals (xG): Chelsea 2.8 – Djurgården 0.9
From front to back, Chelsea looked composed, efficient, and ruthless. Whether it was Fernández’s vision, Sancho’s sharpness, or Jackson’s clinical finishing, every part of the team delivered when it mattered.
The Clash was a lesson in control, class, and clinical execution. It was also a glimpse into what this Chelsea side is evolving into under Maresca—youthful, dynamic, and European contenders once again. For Djurgården, the run ends in pride, not shame. For Chelsea, it’s full steam ahead to Wroclaw.
With the tie virtually done, the focus now shifts to securing Champions League qualification domestically and preparing for a likely final showdown in Poland. Based on this performance, Chelsea look ready for anything.
