Chelsea are set to face some proper competition in Europe for the first time all season as we travel to the capital of Denmark to take on FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League. The second leg shall follow in a week’s time back at Stamford Bridge.

Copenhagen aren’t necessarily significantly better than our toughest opposition faced in the competition thus far, but the stakes are higher now than in the league phase. We remain the clear tournament favorites and anything less than at least an appearance in the final would be a major disappointment.

“From now on, all the Conference League games and all the Premier League games, they are all important. We are going to take one by one until the end, trying to win as many games as possible.”

-Enzo Maresca; source: Football.London

Date / Time: Thursday, March 6, 2025, 17.45 GMT; 12:45pm EST; 11:15pm IST

Venue: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark

Referee: Georgi Kabakov (on pitch); Dragomir Draganov (VAR)

Forecast: Sunny but cool, with a slight breeze

On TV: TNT Sports 4 (UK); none (USA); Sony TEN 5 (India); SuperSport MáXimo 3 (NGA); elsewhere

Streaming: discovery+ (UK); Paramount+ (USA); Sony LIV (India); DStv Now (NGA)

FC Copenhagen team news: Back in the 90s, when I started to form football memories, Brøndby IF were the cream of the Danish crop, but over the last couple decades, that honor has certainly belonged to Copenhagen instead, with 14 top flight titles to their name since 2000. They’re on course for a 15th, after the disappointment of just a third place finish last season.

Strangely, the team are led in scoring by a defender, Kevin Diks (once of Chelsea B Vitesse), who is the only player in double digits across all competitions. Former Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi is their second leading scorer, but he’s going to miss out due to fitness concerns. Another familiar name, veteran midfielder Thomas Delaney is doubtful, while Nicolai Boilesen, Oliver Højer, Andreas Cornelius, Lukas Lerager, and Jordan Larsson (son of the great Henrik Larsson) have all been ruled out. Frequent transfer rumor fodder Roony Bardghji is also out.

Despite that laundry list of absentees, some of them quite key, the home side should not be taken lightly. They’ve lost just twice at home all season — though both times in the Conference League (including against FC Heidenheim, whom we also faced in the league phase).

Chelsea team news: There’s some good news with regards to injuries, as both Trevoh Chalobah and Benoît Badiashile have been passed fit and everyone else will have had a week to rest, recover, and prepare — including Cole Palmer, who could use a bit of good fortune in front of goal before things get too awkward and slumpy and weird.

Enzo Maresca did not confirm whether Palmer would make his first ever Conference League start, but he did confirm that Robert Sánchez will get the nod between the sticks. I guess he’s the cup-goalkeeper now.

We haven’t won a game away from home since the last Conference League away match, way back in mid-December: that’s seven without a win, including four defeats in a row.

Previously: Unlike all our previous Conference League opponents, we do have history against Copenhagen, and some of it quite strange, even. We beat them on aggregate in the Round of 16 of both the 1998 Cup Winners’ Cup and the 2010-11 Champions League. In both of those matchups, we would, in no particular order, win the away leg and settle for a draw at home.

But it’s that 1998 matchup that remains notable for one of the stranger episodes in club history, with one most excellent, but evidently most homesick, Brian Laudrup scoring our winning goal in the away leg, then joining that very same Copenhagen team a week later after just 11 appearances and three months — and that one singular goal — at Chelsea. Incidentally, Copenhagen’s goal at the Bridge in the first leg was scored by Bjarne Goldbæk, who would move the other way and join us as part of the Laudrup deal. BlueCo would be proud.