Chelsea vs FC Copenhagen Predictions

• At least three goals have been scored in Chelsea’s last three Conference League home games
• At least three goals have been scored in Copenhagen’s last three Conference League away games
• Chelsea deservedly beat an injury-hit Copenhagen 2-1 in Denmark last week

Palmer is Maresca’s new problem

Europa Conference League favourites Chelsea can secure a place in the quarter-finals with a repeat victory over an injury-hit Copenhagen side at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. Enzo Maresca’s side are already 2-1 up from the first leg at the Parken and should have the strength in depth to see off the challenge of the visitors.

Chelsea churned out a 1-0 home win over Leicester at the weekend to move back into the Premier League’s top four and it is clear that the London derby with Arsenal on Sunday is going to be a bigger priority for Maresca than this. He paid Copenhagen more respect than previous opponents in this competition by playing Cole Palmer from the start, but the England star’s lacklustre form continues.

He may be tempted to bench Palmer on Thursday night after his penalty miss in another anonymous display against the Foxes. Elsewhere, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Romeo Lavia and Trevoh Chalobah can expect to get more minutes in a line-up that will again show half a dozen changes or more.

Copenhagen cannot compete with Chelsea’s squad depth

Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup would love to have such options as many of his best players are currently out injured. Star winger Roony Bardghi and forward Jordan Larsson, together with experienced midfielders Mohamed Elyounoussi and Thomas Delaney, missed the first leg and only Larsson made it back for their 1-1 draw with struggling SonderjyskE on Sunday.

Centre-back Kevin Diks also looks likely to be out after getting injured against Chelsea, so Neestrup is lacking options in several areas. Copenhagen are not in great form after dropping points against two struggling clubs recently, but they won’t be playing against a low block in London and will have nothing to lose.

That could make them dangerous against a Chelsea side who still cannot be trusted to keep a clean sheet. The Blues conceded against Shamrock Rovers in the League phase and twice against Gent, who are of a similar standard to Copenhagen. Backing over 2.5 goals should be the way to go with Chelsea’s shadow squad capable of squeezing out another 2-1 win.