Chelsea is set to face FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League last 16, a match that promises excitement and intense competition. The first leg of this knockout stage will take place on Thursday, March 6, with the return fixture scheduled for Thursday, March 13. Enzo Maresca's squad enters this phase with confidence, having finished at the top of the league phase with an impressive record of six wins from six matches.
In preparation for the knockout rounds, Chelsea has strategically bolstered their squad by adding Cole Palmer, Trevoh Chalobah, and Mathis Amougou. Palmer, who was previously left out of the league phase to carefully manage his playing minutes, joins the team just in time for the critical fixtures ahead. UEFA regulations permit clubs to make only three changes to their squad after the winter transfer window, a rule Chelsea has tactically navigated.
On the opposite side, FC Copenhagen, who finished 18th in the table, fought hard to secure their place in the last 16. Their journey included a challenging knockout play-off against FC Heidenheim 1846, which extended into extra time before Copenhagen emerged victorious with a 4-3 aggregate win.
Chelsea will proceed without Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia, both of whom are currently injured and remain excluded from the Conference League squad. Despite these setbacks, Chelsea aims to maintain their winning momentum as they advance through the tournament.
The competition's quarter-final matches are slated for April 10 and 17, followed by semi-final matchups on May 1 and 8. Notable teams in the semi-finals include Pafos vs Djurgarden, Borac vs SK Rapid, Panathinaikos vs Fiorentina, and Celje vs Lugano. The grand finale is scheduled to take place on May 28 in Wroclaw.
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