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

Evening Standard

·8 May 2025

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

Enzo Maresca will again ring the changes with one eye on a trip to Newcastle

Enzo Maresca will again make a number of changes to his team as Chelsea tonight bid to see off Djurgarden and reach the Conference League final.

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Chelsea hold a 4-1 lead from the first leg of their semi-final and are bidding to get the job done at Stamford Bridge.

Many of the players involved in the surprise win over Liverpool last weekend are likely to be rested, with Sunday’s crucial trip to Newcastle in the top-five race a tougher test.

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has played in all but one of Chelsea’s Conference League matches so far this season, so he will keep his place between the sticks.

Further forward, Christopher Nkunku has regularly got the nod in Europe but is sidelined through injury, so academy star Tyrique George could again be trusted up front, just as he did last week in Sweden.

Fellow forward Marc Guiu is very close to a return, but Maresca suggested that the Spaniard’s involvement, if any, would likely be from the bench.

Speaking about the selection decisions he must make, Maresca said on Wednesday: “If you remember the game against Warsaw, we started with Jackson and Cole [Palmer]. We had a strong one.

“We will start tomorrow with the best XI we think for us. We only have 48 hours [between games] and we play at 12pm [on Sunday], so we don't have a big time for recovery. We arrived back at 5pm last week from Sweden, so we know how to handle it.”

Although Maresca talked of a “best XI”, his team is expected to be more similar to that which won handsomely in Sweden rather than the line-up which stunned Liverpool.

Romeo Lavia and 20-year-old Aaron Anselmino are not in the Blues’ squad submitted to UEFA for the Conference League knockout stages, so will not feature.

Neither will Wesley Fofana, who is also not part of that squad and is out for the season with a hamstring injury.

Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Cucurella; Fernandez, James; Madueke, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho; George

Doubt: Guiu

Unavailable: Nkunku, Kellyman, Fofana, Lavia, Anselmino, Mudryk

Time and date: 8pm, Thursday May 8, 2025

Venue: Stamford Bridge

TV channel: TNT Sports