Chelsea vs Djurgarden predictions: Blues bound to take it easy in London
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- Chelsea won last week’s first leg 4-1 in Sweden
- The Blues beat Premier League champions Liverpool at the weekend
- Recommended bet: Under 3.5 goals
The first leg of Chelsea’s Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden went exactly how everybody expected last week, as the big-spending Blues brushed aside the Swedish outfit to take a 4-1 lead in the tie.
Enzo Maresca’s side are one step closer to becoming the first club to be crowned champions of all three UEFA competitions and, with the job practically done, they may take their foot off the gas in Thursday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Team news
Christopher Nkunku, who is expected to leave Chelsea in the summer, has joined Marc Guiu and Wesley Fofana on the sidelines.
The likes of Noni Madueke, Reece James and Enzo Fernandez started the first leg, but with the Blues embroiled in a tight battle for the Champions League spots and facing their top-five rivals Newcastle in the Premier League next, Maresca may rotate more heavily this time.
Djurgarden remain in the midst of an injury crisis, with Patric Aslund, Oskar Fallenius, Nino Zugelj, Rasmus Schuller and Piotr Johansson the latest names added to an absentee list which is well into double figures.
There are no returning players so the visitors may have to name a half-full bench again, just as they did last week.
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The stats
Chelsea have won 10 of their 11 Conference League games.
Djurgarden have lost three of their last five European outings.
Just three of Chelsea's last 13 matches have gone over 3.5 goals.
The visitors have netted only three goals in their last six league games.
Over 3.5 goals has been a winning bet in only three of Djurgarden’s 11 Conference League matches.
Four of Chelsea’s last seven games at Stamford Bridge have produced just one goal.
Prediction
Thanks to their 4-1 win in Sweden, the hard work is already done for Chelsea and they can take it easy at Stamford Bridge with one eye on Sunday’s crucial trip to Newcastle.
Marseca will likely rotate his side accordingly and without as many of their key men starting this week in comparison to last, the Blues may not be so ruthless in front of goal.
Chelsea are not exactly goal machines at the best of times, even with their better players in action, and only three of their last 13 matches have gone over 3.5 goals, making the under an appealing bet for Thursday’s second leg.
Djurgarden obviously need to chase the tie but while they will attack with intent, a return of just three goals from their last six Allvenskan games suggests they may lack the finishing ability to make any pressure count in London.
Over 3.5 goals has been a winning bet in just three of the Iron Stoves’ 11 Conference League games and with the visitors misfiring and the hosts content with the aggregate score, it could pay to side with the under again.
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