Copenhagen vs Chelsea LIVE!
Chelsea will take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their Conference League last-16 tie against Copenhagen after fine finishes from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez bucked the trend of an otherwise drab meeting in Denmark.
After a first half in which a rejigged Chelsea line-up largely failed to trouble their hosts, Enzo Maresca inserted some of his regular Premier League starters and the shape of the game altered at once, James breaking the deadlock from range 56 seconds after the interval. Fernandez made it two midway through the half after being set up by 18-year-old Tyrique George to go some of the way towards erasing memories of a grim first half, though it left Maresca with much to ponder in his bid to carve out a top-four finish domestically.
They had themselves to blame for not emerging with a more commanding lead, leaving space for defender Gabriel Pereira to head a free-kick powerfully past Robert Sanchez in the 79th minute to give the Danish champions encouragement for next Thursday's return leg at Stamford Bridge.
Copenhagen vs Chelsea latest news
- GOAL! Pereira pulls one back for Copenhagen
- GOAL! Fernandez doubles lead
- GOAL! James puts Chelsea in front
- How to watch: TNT Sports
FT: Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
19:39 , Matt VerriChelsea have their first win away from home since early December.
Not exactly convincing but it’s job done, they take a lead back to London for next week’s second leg.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
19:37 , Matt Verri90+3 mins: All very scrappy now. Referee has spent the night letting things go but has lost all patience in the last ten minutes.
Chelsea within touching distance of a narrow win to take back to London.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
19:34 , Matt Verri90 mins: Cucurella nods the ball behind for a corner, Copenhagen pushing for a late equaliser.
Referee has decide he’s now going to book anyone that looks at him. Gets the card out again for some pushing in the middle, now walks back out of the area, bumps into Lopez in the process... and books him for good measure.
Four minutes added on.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
19:31 , Matt Verri87 mins: Fernandez and Chiakha have been booked for some shoving in the middle. Feels harsh.
Free-kick eventually swung in, Chelsea this time decide they probably should do some marking.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
19:30 , Matt Verri86 mins: Cucurella with a lovely flop to the ground, grabbing the ball in the process.
Free-kick given against him for handball. Shambles from the left-back.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
19:27 , Matt Verri83 mins: George is back up and looks fine to continue, which will be a relief for Maresca.
James and Mattsson then collide in midfield, Chelsea man stoops to head the ball and gets absolutely clattered into.
Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
19:26 , Matt Verri82 mins: Crucial final ten minutes coming up now. Chelsea need to get through them.
And their problems are growing - George has gone down off the ball. Chelsea have used all their subs...
GOAL! Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea | Gabriel Pereira 80'
19:24 , Matt VerriBut they won’t take that result back to Stamford Bridge!
So simple. Free-kick swung to the back post, Pereira completely free and he powers a header past Sanchez.
Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
19:19 , Matt Verri75 mins: Chelsea happy to have a spell of sitting deep and letting Copenhagen have the ball.
They know the job will be pretty much done if they take this result back to Stamford Bridge.
Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
19:16 , Matt Verri72 mins: Here is that final Chelsea change, Sancho on for Palmer.
Means it will be eight matches without a goal for Palmer, who hasn’t scored for nearly two months.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
19:14 , Matt VerriJadon Sancho about to come on, which means Chelsea will have about 20 minutes to play here with all their substitutes used up.
Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
19:13 , Matt Verri69 mins: Chelsea could really run away with this.
Fernandez tries to roll a pass through to Nkunku in the box, just has too much on it and the Frenchman can’t take it in his stride.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
19:11 , Matt VerriThat’s the level of the competition and the advantage Chelsea have.
Dreadful in the first half? Nae bother. Send on a £100million midfield at half-time.
GOAL! Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea | Enzo Fernandez 66'
19:10 , Matt VerriAnd that could be tie over!
Copenhagen lose it deep in their own half and are made to pay.
George at the byline, cut-back picks out Fernandez and he guides it into the far corner.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
19:08 , Matt Verri64 mins: Was that saved?
Palmer picks the ball up 25 yards out and hammers a strike at goal, it flies just wide.
He’s convinced it was tipped wide - referee says goal-kick.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
19:07 , Matt Verri63 mins: Chance for Copenhagen down their right with Cucurella out of position, but Gocholeishvili gets the ball stuck under his feet.
So much more space on offer now than there was in the first 45 minutes. Much better watch... which is a fairly low bar, to be fair.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
19:03 , Matt Verri59 mins: Just wide!
Fernandez clips a lovely ball through to Cucurella, goalkeeper charges out but the left-back gets there first.
Heads it beyond the goalkeeper... and the ball trickles wide of the far post. Again the flag goes up, wouldn’t have counted.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
19:02 , Matt Verri58 mins: Achouri briefly looks to be in on goal as the ball is scooped over the top, but Sanchez flies off his line to gather.
Offside flag up anyway.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
19:00 , Matt Verri56 mins: Copenhagen’s best bet might be letting Sanchez have the ball.
Does well this time, to be fair to the goalkeeper. Ball fired into the path of Fernandez and the midfielder wins a free-kick.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
18:57 , Matt Verri52 mins: Fernandez has upped the tempo in midfield since coming on, seeing plenty of the ball.
Copenhagen are starting to press higher up the pitch, which should suit Chelsea.
Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea
18:54 , Matt Verri49 mins: Off the post!
Should be 1-1! Claesson is in behind, clean through on goal... drags a finish past Sanchez but it bounces off the post and the goalkeeper can claim.
This match has burst into life.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
18:52 , Matt VerriAmazing what a shot on target can do, ey?
Chelsea’s first of the game is not particularly powerful but it’s precise enough from James and they’re ahead.
GOAL! Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea | Reece James 47'
18:51Decent start to the half!
Advantage played as Cucurella bursts down the left wing, his cut back rolls into the path of James and his first-time finish from 25 yards out finds the bottom corner!
Didn’t seem to be a huge amount of power on the strike but it’s good enough.
Back underway!
18:49 , Matt VerriUp and running in the second-half. Three Chelsea changes at the break.
Mheuka, Caicedo and Badiashile off, Colwill, Fernandez and Nkunku introduced.
Premier League sides struggling...
18:41 , Matt VerriNot a great showing from the English clubs so far.
In the Europa League, Tottenham are 1-0 down against AZ Alkmaar, while it’s goalless between Manchester United and Real Sociedad.
Goals proving a real struggle!
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
18:36 , Matt VerriWell, I did say that scoring four against Southampton did not necessarily mean Chelsea’s attacking woes were resolved.
We’ve had 45 minutes here and they’ve made well over 400 passes without managing a shot on target.
HT: Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:33 , Matt VerriWe made it.
Half-time in Copenhagen, after 45 minutes in which near enough nothing happened.
No attacking threat from Chelsea at all, and they lost Malo Gusto to injury. Not going to plan.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:31 , Matt Verri45 mins: We’re all praying for no added-time...
It is instead two minutes to be played at the end of a dreadful half.
Malik Ouzi at Parken Stadium
18:29 , Matt VerriThis Chelsea attack looks so one-paced.
A forward line of two teenagers and an out of position midfielder.
Palmer’s been guilty of wanting far too long on the ball.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:27 , Matt Verri41 mins: Copenhagen getting everyone behind the ball and Chelsea seem to have no clue how to break them down.
Some slow passing in defence, through to a midfielder, back into defence... and then lose it. That’s the pattern.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:25 , Matt Verri38 mins: Badiashile with a great pass through the lines to Palmer, much more like it.
But Froholdt is quickly back to close Palmer down and he wins the ball back - doing a good job of keeping Chelsea’s main man quiet.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:22 , Matt Verri35 mins: Chelsea have had one shot in the match so far, that volleyed effort from Palmer early in the match.
It’s... not been great from the Blues.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:19 , Matt Verri32 mins: Clem fires a shot over the bar... and then the offside flag goes up. Wouldn’t have counted, which is just as well for him. Big chance.
Chelsea had been opened up down their right, hosts are growing in confidence a bit.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
18:16 , Matt VerriAnimated conversations going on between Chelsea’s centre-backs and central midfielders during the last few breaks in play.
They can’t decide who is supposed to be picking up Claesson, who is shifting between the lines cleverly.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:14 , Matt Verri28 mins: Caicedo does well to get back and win the ball, just as Chelsea looked to be a bit exposed.
Dewsbury-Hall then goes for a stroll down the left wing, throws himself to the ground... and is stunned when the referee waves him back up.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:11 , Matt Verri25 mins: Cucurella has quickly got himself ready and he’s straight into the action. He comes in at left-back, Chalobah at right-back with Badiashile in the middle.
Chelsea forced into an early reshuffle.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:09 , Matt Verri23 mins: Gusto stretches a leg out to block a cross, goes down... and he’s signalled that he needs to come off.
Looks like Cucurella is getting ready to come on.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:07 , Matt Verri21 mins: Tosin nearly gets caught on the halfway line as his pass is intercepted, but the ball rolls away to safety from his perspective.
Would be fair to say Chelsea are not moving the ball at lightning speed.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:03 , Matt Verri17 mins: Claesson twists, turns, twists again, as he tries to find space for the shot on the edge of the area.
Eventually decides he should probably pass, but lays it off to nobody in particular and Chelsea can clear.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
18:02 , Matt VerriMalo Gusto is being strapped up on the side of the pitch so looks like he’ll carry on, but a couple of injury scares already for Maresca.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
18:00 , Matt Verri14 mins: Palmer becoming increasingly involved.
Ball loops up and he very nearly makes something happen out of nothing, volleying an effort just wide from 20 yards out. Goalkeeper was scrambling.
Gusto has gone down - both managers use the chance to give another team talk.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
17:58 , Matt Verri12 mins: First sign of trouble for Copenhagen.
Palmer in space 35 yards out, he clips a really nice ball to the back post and it’s just beyond Dewsbury-Hall. Wasn’t far away from getting on the end of that.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
17:56 , Matt Verri10 mins: Palmer looks to have pretty much run off that earlier knock.
Chelsea haven’t really got going in attack yet, for all they have dominated possession. Lots of the ball in defence and midfield.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
17:54 , Matt Verri7 mins: Patient build-up from Chelsea, if you are being generous. Unthreatening if you’re not.
Ends with Badiashile basically tripping over the ball.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
17:53 , Matt VerriCole Palmer is still not moving that freely after a collision a few minutes ago.
Copenhagen 0-0 Chelsea
17:50 , Matt Verri4 mins: Copenhagen fans having a good go at booing every Chelsea touch. We’ll see how long it is until they get bored.
Hosts win it back and a scuffed effort is saved by Sanchez. Already signs that Copenhagen can trouble the Chelsea defence.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
17:48 , Matt VerriNot many familiar names in the Copenhagen lineup, with Thomas Delaney out through illness and Mohamed Elyounoussi not risked after a struggle with injury.
There are couple on the bench that London fans may - and I stress may - remember in the goalkeepers Nathan Trott and Alex Runarsson, formerly of West Ham and Arsenal, respectively.
KICK-OFF!
17:46 , Matt VerriWe’re up and running!
Here we go!
17:42 , Matt VerriTeams are out in Copenhagen.
Chelsea fans behind one of the goals, the white flags bouncing at the other end of the pitch. Great atmosphere.
Not long now!
17:34 , Matt VerriConsider this your ten-minute warning.
Teams will be in the tunnel very shortly, as the Conference League knockout stages get underway.
Some youth up front but this is a fairly strong Chelsea side - anything other than a win would be a poor result.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
17:27 , Matt VerriI wrote in my preview this morning that the outside of Parken looks like an office block. And that would appear to be because it is.
Chelsea’s fans are in the lower tier behind the goal to my right and where you’d expect an upper tier of seats are instead just floors and floors of glass windows looking into desks, computers and empty swivel chairs.
Malik Ouzia at Parken Stadium
17:20 , Matt VerriInteresting team selection from Enzo Maresca...
"This is the night when in theory at least it starts to get interesting."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) March 6, 2025
🗣 @MalikOuzia_ gives his pre-match thoughts from Copenhagen as Chelsea resume their European campaign.
LIVE: https://t.co/eCu3jOmvEn #CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/AlpggJmR9l
Boehly responds to Chelsea protests
17:12 , Matt VerriTodd Boehly has shrugged off growing fan criticism at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s owners were the target of a protest held ahead of the recent victory over Southampton, with around 200 supporters making their discontent known outside the Bridge and many chanting the name of former owner Roman Abramovich.
One banner featured a cartoon mock up of Boehly next to the words “Wanted for crimes against Chelsea: Clearlake and BlueCo”. BlueCo was the investment vehicle formed to facilitate the takeover in 2022.
“I just think it is par for the course,” said Boehly of the protest. “The sooner you learn you are not going to keep all the people happy all the time, the freedom shows up.
“We are just trying to execute a plan and recognise things aren’t linear, and we are trending in the right direction. The trend is moving in the right direction and that’s the thing that really matters.
“In June, it will be three years in charge. That’s not a lot of time, especially when you get to 50, 60 or 70 years old in life. It’s a whirlwind of activity and steep learning curve, but I think that’s also a good thing.”
Malik Ouzia at the Parken Stadium
17:05 , Matt VerriThe home ultra end is already full with 45 minutes still to go until kick-off and drowning out the music being played over the PA.
It’s Elvis’s ‘Wonder Of You’, in case you’re interested. Very Highbury.
Blow for Copenhagen
16:57 , Matt VerriThomas Delaney not involved for Copenhagen this evening.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has pulled out of the squad due to illness - he’ll be a big miss for the hosts.
Copenhagen team news
16:48 , Matt VerriCopenhagen XI: Ramaj, Diks, Pareira, Hatzidiakos, Meling, Clem, Froholdt, Gocholeishvili, Claesson, Achouri, Chiakha.
Subs: Trott, Garananga, Mattsson, Huescas, Lopez, Robert, Runarsson, Falk, Nemeth
Palmer starts!
16:45 , Matt VerriCole Palmer is indeed in from the off tonight, as he looks to rediscover his goal-scoring touch.
Looks to be Reece James in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, with academy graduates Shim Mhueka and Tyrique George both getting their chance to impress.
Chelsea team news
16:37 , Matt VerriChelsea XI: Sanchez, Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Gusto; James, Caicedo; Dewsbury-Hall, Palmer, George, Mheuka
Subs: Jorgensen, Bergstrom, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Amougou, Neto, Sancho, Nkunku
Palmer needs to start?
16:29 , Matt VerriOn Copenhagen’s Trianglen junction, just up the road from where the office block facade of Parken Stadium looms out of the flat landscape, construction workers are busy setting up one of the city’s new attractions, the ominously titled ‘Circus of Torment’.
Up until recently, asking Conference League opposition to defend against Cole Palmer would have been a trial fit for that stage.
As Chelsea’s second-stringers strolled to top spot in the league phase, winning all six matches and scoring 26 goals, Palmer was kept mercifully removed, left out of the European squad for the first half of the season and made to be content with tormenting Premier League backlines instead.
Tonight though, the Englishman could make his first appearance in the competition proper as the Blues face FC Copenhagen in their last-16 first leg and, whisper it, might just appreciate the chance.
Glorious afternoon!
16:15 , Matt VerriNot a half bad away day for the Chelsea fans in Copenhagen...
📌🇩🇰#CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/6ucBneVcJj
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 6, 2025
Cucurella: We are ready to win Conference League
16:03 , Matt VerriMarc Cucurella insists his young Chelsea teammates are ready to fight for major trophies - and urged them to use the Conference League to prove it.
Enzo Maresca’s side cruised through the league phase, winning all six of their matches, but their form in domestic competition has dropped off badly since and the Conference League now represents their only chance of silverware prior to the summer’s inaugural Club World Cup.
Chelsea have looked a clear cut above their rivals in the tournament so far and remain odds-on favourites to become the second English winners in three seasons, with Cucurella admitting it would be a “disappointment” were they not to claim the trophy at the end of May.
“For sure, 100 per cent,” he said. “We are a top club. Chelsea is a top club. We have a lot of players with a lot of of skills and abilities and I think we need to feel that we can win the competition.
“We need to believe that we are ready. We can do it and I think, for us, it is an important tournament and we go with all of that.”
Standard Sport prediction
15:52 , Matt VerriChelsea are expected to get through the tie, but this first leg looks a tricky fixture to navigate because of their away form. Copenhagen beat Manchester United at home in the Champions League last season, so they can’t be taken lightly.
The Danes are a step up in quality compared to what the Blues have faced so far in the competition and a rotated side could very well come unstuck, especially away from home.
Copenhagen to win, 2-1.
Chelsea team news
15:38 , Matt VerriCole Palmer could play in the Conference League for the first time since August tonight, with Robert Sanchez set to start in goal.
Sanchez was Maresca’s Premier League No1 during the first half of the season and did not play a minute during the group stage of this competition, but has since lost his place to Filip Jorgensen following a poor run of form.
“Robert starts tomorrow, yes,” Maresca confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “Tomorrow he is going to play and we'll see.”
Palmer, meanwhile, is available for the first time since the qualifying round, having been left out of Chelsea’s group stage squad in the Conference League to manage his workload.
Wesley Fofana returned to the matchday squad for Chelsea’s win over Southampton at the end of last month but will have to wait to make his injury comeback.
The centre-back is ineligible having been left out of the Blues’s squad for the league phase and then omitted again off a list of the maximum three mid-season additions ahead of the knockout stage.
As well as Palmer, Trevoh Chalobah and January signing Mathis Amougou were added to Maresca’s squad.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall; Sancho, Palmer, George; Nkunku
Copenhagen team news
15:30 , Matt VerriCopenhagen will turn to the likes of Thomas Delaney and Mohamed Elyounoussi (formerly of Sevilla and Southampton) to get a result against Chelsea.
However, talented youngster Roony Bardghji is absent as he recovers from a cruciate ligament tear.
How to watch Copenhagen vs Chelsea
15:23 , Matt VerriTV channel: In the UK, today’s game will be televised live on TNT Sports 4. Coverage starts at 5.15pm GMT ahead of a 5.45pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here, with expert analysis from Chelsea correspondent Malik Ouzia in Copenhagen.
Good afternoon!
15:15 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Copenhagen vs Chelsea!
It’s the first leg of this Conference League last-16 tie and it remains a competition the Blues are very much favourites to win.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 5:45pm GMT from the Parken Stadium. Stick with us!
