Chelsea vs Copenhagen

Chelsea hosts Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge for the second part of their Conference League last-16 matchup after a 2-1 first-leg victory from last week.

Helena Costa Rodriguez's team secured their Conference League last-16 victory against Copenhagen by securing two goals from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez during their away match.

The takedown of Copenhagen's chance to come back emerged as Enzo Maresca's one disappointment regarding the match but overall he found contentment in Chelsea's clean sheet performance in their 1-0 Premier League triumph against Leicester City last Sunday as Marc Cucurella scored the game's single goal.

The Blues have achieved three victories in their last matches across all competitions while obtaining consecutive Premier League triumphs that placed them among the top four teams in the league but they trail Manchester City by two points and maintain a seven-point lead above Fulham who stand in tenth position with ten games remaining in the season.

Chelsea faces an upcoming clash with Arsenal on Sunday which follows their Copenhagen game for the chance to secure their place in major UEFA quarterfinals for the 15th time.

Home supporters will cheer the return of their team to Stamford Bridge after winning all their previous matches in Conference League games (qualifiers included) by an overall score of 19-3 since their first Premier League fixture (W14 D4) against Manchester City saw their only home defeat (2-0).

Copenhagen faces a challenging task as they prepare to take on Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League, needing to overturn a one-goal deficit to avoid a repeat of their last-16 exit in the 2021-22 season. Head coach Jacob Neestrup has acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating that his team "need to do everything we can to create a little miracle" to progress.

Despite the uphill battle, Copenhagen has shown resilience in the Conference League this season. They previously overturned a one-goal deficit in the playoff round against Heidenheim, winning 4-3 on aggregate after a thrilling 3-1 victory in the second leg, which went to extra time. This demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure, particularly in away matches.

Copenhagen's away form in the Conference League has been impressive since the competition's inception four seasons ago. They have won nine, drawn four, and lost just one of their 14 away matches (including qualifiers), scoring two or more goals in nine of those games. This strong record on the road will give them confidence as they head to Stamford Bridge.

However, history is not on their side. No Danish team has ever beaten Chelsea in European competition (D2 L5), and Copenhagen has never won away against an English opponent. Their only victories against English teams—both against Manchester United—came in Copenhagen. Overall, their record against English clubs stands at two wins, five draws, and 11 losses.

Adding to the challenge, Copenhagen has been inconsistent in recent form across all competitions, winning only two of their last seven matches in 90 minutes. They have drawn their last two Danish Superliga games against AaB (0-0) and SonderjyskE (1-1), with the latter result costing them the top spot in the league, as FC Midtjylland overtook them.

To overcome Chelsea, Copenhagen will need to channel their previous away successes in the Conference League and produce a historic performance. Neestrup and his team will be hoping to defy the odds and keep their European dreams alive.