Djurgarden vs Chelsea prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-04-30 19:00.
[p]Having already achieved history by reaching a first-ever UEFA semi-final, Swedish outfit DjurgÄrden are set to face their toughest challenge yet as they prepare to host two-time UEFA Champions League (UCL) winners Chelsea on Thursday. In fact, the team from Stockholm are the very first Swedish side to have reached the final four of a UEFA competition since IFK Göteborg famously lifted the UEFA Cup back in 1986/87. [/p]
[p]After a slow start to this seasonâs Conference League, DjurgĂ„rden earned victories in their final four league-phase fixtures to progress. Going on to overcome first-leg defeats to advance from both of their knockout encounters on the way to this stage, the Iron Stoves have won six of their last eight two-legged ties in the competition. This will undoubtedly be their most difficult one yet, as Jani Honkavaara takes the Swedish outfit into their first clash with Premier League opposition. [/p]
[p]Anything short of winning the Conference League would be a disappointment for Chelsea, who continue to battle for a spot in next seasonâs UCL as they made it five straight Premier League matches unbeaten over the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Everton. The Bluesâ route to the final four has been just as easy as many would have predicted, emerging unscathed from their first nine tournament games (W9) until an inconsequential 2-1 defeat in their quarter-final second leg against Legia Warsaw.[/p]
[p]Returning to winning ways on Scandinavian shores will be an expectation rather than a hope, as Chelsea have never lost against Swedish opposition (W5, D3). Having progressed from 12 of their last 14 UEFA two-legged ties, Chelsea can also take inspiration from their solid record across their last 14 matches in European semi-finals (W5, D8, L1), each of which have come against tougher opposition on paper than last termâs fourth-placed Allsvenskan finishers. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Tobias Gulliksen wrote his name into DjurgÄrden folklore as he scored twice in extra time of their quarter-final against Rapid Wien to double his Conference League tally for the season (G4). Noni Madueke has four goal contributions in five appearances in the competition this campaign following his brace in the last eight (G3, A1), with four of his last five goals having also come away from home. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Chelsea have scored first and won all five of their main-draw Conference League away games this season. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]