Chelsea vs Djurgaarden prediction : lineups, betting tips, odds and match preview
Chelsea are gearing up for a historic first meeting with Swedish side Djurgården in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final first leg. The Blues travel to Stockholm’s 3Arena on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 PM UK time. This fixture represents a significant opportunity for both clubs – Chelsea pursuing European silverware while maintaining their push for a Champions League spot, and Djurgården enjoying their most successful European campaign in club history. The West London outfit brings an impressive record against Swedish teams, having never lost in eight previous encounters (5 wins, 3 draws).
Head-to-head analysis and recent form
Chelsea’s Conference League journey has been nothing short of spectacular, maintaining a perfect league phase record with six wins from six matches. The Blues demonstrated their dominance by dispatching FC Copenhagen in the round of 16 and advancing past Legia Warsaw despite a home leg setback. Their recent domestic form shows a promising 5-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League, positioning them firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
Djurgården’s path to this semi-final has been equally impressive. The Swedish side overcame Pafos after losing the away leg 1-0 but securing a convincing 3-0 victory at home. Their quarter-final triumph featured a remarkable 4-1 away win against SK Rapid following a narrow 1-0 home defeat. However, their domestic campaign has been less consistent, currently sitting 11th in the Allsvenskan with just two victories from five games.
Key statistics
- Chelsea lead the Conference League scoring charts with 33 goals (averaging 3.3 per game)
- The Blues average 2.8 goals in away fixtures in this competition
- Chelsea have scored first in all six of their road games in Europe this season
- Djurgården’s only previous experience against English opposition came against Manchester United in 1964/65, resulting in a 7-2 aggregate defeat
Predicted lineups and team news
Chelsea are likely to deploy either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation with Jorgensen or Sanchez between the posts. The defensive unit should feature Chalobah, Colwill, Badiashile, and Cucurella, while the midfield will likely see the partnership of Caicedo and Fernandez. In attack, Chelsea’s offensive firepower will likely include Madueke or Sancho, Palmer, Neto, and Jackson as the central striker.
Djurgården are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Rinne guarding the goal. Their defensive line should comprise Stahl, Une Larsson, Danielson, and Kosugi, supported by a midfield featuring Finndell/Stensson and Haarala. The attacking quartet will likely include Gulliksen, Zugelj, Priske, and either Fallenius or Ngien leading the line.
Injury concerns
- Chelsea: Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman (both out until next season), Marc Guiu (doubtful), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended), and Malo Gusto (injured)
- Djurgården: Jacob Rinne (illness), Albin Ekdal, Nino Zugelj and five others injured, plus Malkolm Nilsson Säfqvist (elbow)
Players to watch include Tobias Fjeld Gulliksen for the Swedish side, who has netted 4 goals in 10 European matches this season. For the visitors, Chelsea’s attacking trio of Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, and Jadon Sancho will be crucial to their offensive game plan.
Match prediction with betting odds and tips
A 2-1 victory for Chelsea appears the most probable outcome given their superior firepower and exceptional away record in the competition. However, Djurgården’s impressive home form and their remarkable quarter-final performance against SK Rapid suggest they shouldn’t be underestimated in this first leg encounter.
Betting markets and odds
- Match Result: Chelsea favorites at -165 to -170
- Score Progression: Blues to score first and win at -132
- Goals Market: Both teams to score – No at -110, Over 2.5 Chelsea goals at +125
Value hunters might consider Chelsea’s clean sheet potential (4 in the competition so far) combined with their habit of breaking the deadlock in away fixtures. The card market also offers interesting opportunities with over 3.5 yellow cards priced at 3/4, especially considering Djurgården’s discipline record (averaging 2.5 yellow cards per game in this tournament).
The fact this is the first leg of a two-match tie might influence both teams’ tactical approaches. The Swedish side will aim to keep the tie alive for the return leg, while Chelsea’s European experience should see them push for an advantage to take back to Stamford Bridge. Expect the Blues to control possession but face determined resistance from the hosts in what should be an intriguing European semi-final encounter.
- Predicted scoreline: Djurgården 1-2 Chelsea
- Best bet: Chelsea to score first and win (-132)
