Chelsea are making a return to European competition as they face Legia Warsaw in a UEFA Conference League quarter-final clash this Thursday. This journey begins in Poland with a fixture in the capital, setting the stage for what the Blues hope will be two trips to the country in 2025, with the grand final slated for Wroclaw on Wednesday, May 28. Before a potential final appearance, Chelsea must first tackle this Polish double-header, with the return leg at Stamford Bridge scheduled for a week later.
While Chelsea remain the bookies’ favourites to lift the trophy come the end of May, they’ll undoubtedly face stern challenges from the likes of Real Betis and Fiorentina, both of whom have European glory firmly in their sights. But what exactly are the best and worst paths to the final for the Blues? FootballSpectator delves into the potential routes.
When evaluating potential semi-final opponents, Rapid Wien and Djurgarden present the primary challenges for Chelsea. There is little to choose between them, with Rapid finishing slightly ahead in the league phase, thanks only to goal difference. Despite a somewhat underwhelming domestic season, Rapid Wien showed formidable form by defeating FC Copenhagen 3-0 in their last league phase fixture. Chelsea did narrowly progress past Copenhagen with a 3-1 aggregate victory last month, suggesting a possible struggle against Rapid Wien.
For the final hurdle, both Real Betis and Fiorentina pose significant threats. Both clubs have enjoyed robust seasons, with Betis sitting sixth in La Liga and Fiorentina eighth in Serie A. However, it’s Fiorentina that might be the tougher adversary in the concluding match. Having lost the past two Conference League finals, La Viola will be particularly eager to succeed this time around, led by an impressive squad orchestrated by Raffaele Palladino. They boast firepower in former Everton striker Moise Kean, who’s netted in 22 different matches this season. The Florence outfit have secured notable victories including emphatic wins over Juventus (3-0), Inter Milan (3-0), and a remarkable 5-1 rout of Roma.
Considering the best-case scenarios, Djurgarden is perceived as the more favourable semi-final opponent for Chelsea. The Swedish side, despite a commendable performance in European competitions, begun their domestic campaign with mixed results.
In the dream final, Jagiellonia and Celje appear as potential ideal opponents for Chelsea. However, both teams face uphill battles; Jagiellonia against Real Betis and Celje facing off against Fiorentina in their respective quarter-finals. Should they overcome these challenges, Chelsea would fancy their chances. Celje, after all, only squeaked through the league phase on goal difference, sitting 21st in the standings. Their passage through knockout stages has seen them narrowly edge past APOEL FC and conquer Lugano on penalties following an unforgettable 5-4 aggregate win. Jagiellonia, meanwhile, have performed admirably, currently occupying third in the Polish league.
In conclusion, Celje would represent Chelsea’s ideal opponent in the final, but regardless of who stands in their way, the west London club will head into any fixture as favourites.
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