Djurgarden hosts Chelsea in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final on Thursday, May 1st, at 8:00 p.m. (UK time).
Over 2.5 Chelsea goals (7/5 with William Hill)
No team in this season’s Conference League has scored more goals than Chelsea, with 33 strikes—six more than Fiorentina in second. The Blues average 3.3 goals per game. On the road, it is 2.8 goals per game, with Enzo Maresca’s men scoring more than two goals in three of their five away matches. Their good form has translated to the Premier League too, where they are currently on a five match unbeaten run, scoring six goals.
Over 3.5 yellow cards (3/4 with BetMGM)
Only three clubs have picked up more yellow cards this season in the Conference League than Djurgarden (25), who are averaging 2.5 cautions per game and 2.25 per match in the knockout phase. The outsiders are expected to be chasing the game for long periods, with Chelsea dominating possession, and this could lead to frustration creeping into their game and yellow cards being picked up.
Djurgarden vs Chelsea Odds
How both teams go into Djurgarden vs Chelsea
Only four teams boasted a stronger Conference League group stage record than Swedish outfit Djurgarden, who are enjoying their best European campaign, having never reached the semi-finals of any competition. Their previous best came in the 1955/56 season when they reached the European Champion Clubs’ Cup quarter-finals. Jani Honkavaara’s men entered the playoffs with a 1–0 loss to Pafos but made amends at home by winning 3–0. That set up a quarter-final clash with SK Rapid, with the Allsvenskan side again losing the first match (1–0, this time at home) before another second-leg success (4–1).
The Swedish domestic season is only really getting started, with Djurgarden having played just five game so far. They haven’t been in great form though, winning just two of their five games and suffering two losses. These results have left them in 11th position, nine points off the lead.
Before a ball was even kicked, Chelsea, who actually had to qualify for the league phase, were installed as favourites, and they did not let those observers down with a perfect record of six wins from six to seal passage into the Round of 16. There, they met FC Copenhagen, winning both legs by a single goal. We saw a more ruthless Blues in their quarter-final opening match against Legia, running out 3-0 winners, only to suffer their first loss of this season’s competition in the return leg at Stamford Bridge; however, the Polish side had long been beaten.
Chelsea come into this game unbeaten in five Premier League games and in pole position to finish in the all important fifth place, the final Champions League qualifying position. The race for the top five is very tight though and the Blues will need to be firing on all cylinders to ensure they reach the Conference League final and qualify for Champions League football next season.
Djurgarden team news
The only player currently missing for Djurgarden is reserve goalkeeper Malkolm Nilsson Säfqvist, who is dealing with an elbow injury. He previously kept goal in two Conference League matches this season, producing one clean sheet in the process.
Chelsea team news
Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman, both recovering from respective thigh injuries, will not be available to Chelsea until next season. Marc Guiu, the Blues’ leading scorer in the Conference League (six goals), is touch and go. Romeo Lavia should be available, but there is no return date for Mykhailo Mudryk, who remains suspended.