Chelsea vs Legia Warsaw

Chelsea hold a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final against Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Under Enzo Maresca’s management, the Blues secured a convincing victory in Poland last week, reinforcing their status as strong contenders to claim the title next month.

A thoroughly dominant performance in Warsaw has all but guaranteed Chelsea’s progression to the semi-finals, with only an unprecedented collapse in UEFA competition history standing in their way.

Noni Madueke scored twice, following Tyrique George’s opener early in the second half, and Chelsea’s xG exceeding four suggests they could have won by an even wider margin.

Rapid Vienna’s victory over Djurgarden last week positions them as likely semi-final opponents for Chelsea, with a potential final against either Fiorentina or Real Betis on the horizon.

Chelsea boast a perfect record of advancing in European ties after winning the first leg away, and this three-goal cushion is among the most comfortable they’ve ever held.

However, reaching the semi-finals may not quell unrest among Chelsea supporters, who are growing frustrated with Maresca’s tactics, particularly after a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town on Sunday.

That result halted Chelsea’s seven-match home winning streak and saw them trailing 2-0 at halftime, with the dropped points dropping them to sixth in the Premier League.

Their hopes of Champions League qualification are fading, and even winning the Conference League would only secure a Europa League spot—a potential disappointment given the club’s recent heavy spending.

Legia Warsaw’s dreams of reaching a European semi-final, last achieved in 1991 in the Cup Winners’ Cup, were crushed in the first leg, and their dismal away record—seven consecutive losses in European knockout matches—makes a miraculous comeback highly unlikely.

Goncalo Feio's team is headed for a third consecutive Conference League away loss because Legia has lost both of their previous visits and has never won in England.

Additionally, Legia gave up three goals in each of their last two losses to Molde and Djurgarden, and given the disparity in the first leg, a rematch may be imminent.

Feio's team lost to Jagiellonia Bialystok at home over the weekend, which also hurt their chances of participating in Europe the next season. Now, they will only concentrate on the cup final against Pogon Szczecin at the beginning of May.