Chelsea’s dominant display over Djurgården saw them firmly on track for a place in the final of the Europa Conference League, with a resounding 4-1 victory in Stockholm. Despite the raucous celebrations from the Swedish side’s fans when they finally scored, Chelsea’s lead was already secure, leaving little doubt as to the outcome of the semi-final clash.
The match, held at the 3Arena, was a showcase of Chelsea’s financial power and quality. Enzo Fernández, the club’s £106.7 million signing, played a pivotal role, providing two early assists. First, Jadon Sancho opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a strike that benefitted from a misjudged clearance by Djurgården’s Marcus Danielson. Noni Madueke doubled the advantage in the 43rd minute, finishing off a smooth pass from Fernández that left the Swedish side’s defense chasing shadows.
Chelsea, who rotated heavily ahead of the match due to concerns over the poor playing surface, still looked too strong for their opponents. Djurgården, who had stunned many by making it to this stage, never really got a foothold in the game. Despite a few positive moments, particularly from their lively 19-year-old attacker Tyrique George, Chelsea were simply in another class. They controlled the game with pace, strength, and intelligent passing, leaving Djurgården unable to respond.
While Djurgården fans continued to cheer their team on, their hopes of an upset were dashed as Chelsea increased their dominance. After the break, manager Enzo Maresca made several key substitutions, bringing on Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Trevoh Chalobah, and Moisés Caicedo. Jackson made an immediate impact, scoring twice within ten minutes. His first goal came from a defensive mix-up, allowing him to tap the ball into an empty net. Minutes later, he curled a beautiful shot into the top corner to put the game beyond reach.
Despite the heavy scoreline, Djurgården kept pushing, and they were rewarded with a consolation goal in the 71st minute. Tobias Gulliksen’s cross found Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta, who headed past Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen to make it 4-1. Though their efforts were commendable, the Swedish side’s fate was sealed as Chelsea’s superior talent and organization shone through.
The match highlighted the vast gulf in resources between the two sides. While Chelsea has spent over £1 billion on player acquisitions in the past three years, Djurgården’s record transfer is a modest £1.5 million. Even with the occasion and the challenging conditions, Chelsea’s depth of squad proved insurmountable for Djurgården.
Looking ahead, Chelsea will face either Real Betis or Fiorentina in the final later this month, and it’s clear they will face a much sterner test. The semi-final against Djurgården, for all its drama and excitement for the underdog side, was a mismatch from the start. Chelsea’s next challenge will come in the form of tougher competition, where their true mettle will be tested. For now, they can bask in the knowledge that they are one step closer to European glory.
