Chelsea XI vs Copenhagen: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Conference League today

Evening Standard

·13. März 2025

Chelsea XI vs Copenhagen: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Conference League today

Enzo Maresca facing tricky selection calls ahead of weekend clash with Arsenal

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has some difficult team news decisions to make against FC Copenhagen in the Conference League tonight, with a London derby at Arsenal looming.

Chelsea lead 2-1 on aggregate heading into this evening’s last-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge after Reece James and Enzo Fernandez were both on target in the Danish capital last week.

Captain James and Cole Palmer both trained at Cobham on Wednesday. James was ill against Leicester at the weekend but appears fit now, while Palmer was also unwell that day amid a bug in the Blues camp but played in the match and missed a penalty.

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Maresca said: “Cole, Reece and Christopher [Nkunku] have been in the session. Yesterday, they were not there. Today, they were all here and are all back.

“Yesterday they were not even here [at the training ground], all of them. Today they trained with us. We’ll see for tomorrow if we’re going to use them.”

Defender Levi Colwill is expected to start for Chelsea after being selected to speak in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

Malo Gusto will not be involved, having missed the Leicester game after being forced off early in the first leg against Copenhagen.

Romeo Lavia is awaiting his first appearance since mid-January, having returned to the matchday squad but played no part in Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League win against Leicester. However, he is not part of the Blues’ Conference League squad.

Academy players Harrison Murray-Campbell, 18, Genesis Antwi, 17, Reggie Walsh, 16, and Shim Mheuka, 17, all joined the first team for training on Wednesday. Mheuka made history in the first leg, becoming the youngest player to start for Chelsea in a European game.

Chelsea are still without the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke and Marc Guiu to injury, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Acheampong; Caicedo, Fernandez; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho; Nkunku

Injured: Guiu, Jackson, Madueke, Gusto

Doubts: Palmer, James, Nkunku

Unavailable: Mudryk, Lavia

Time and date: 8pm GMT on Thursday March 13, 2025

TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports 4