FC Copenhagen vs Chelsea Report

Scorers: Gabriel Pereira 80’; James 47’, Fernandez 65’

Chelsea extended their flawless UEFA Conference League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Copenhagen in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.

The Blues overcame a sluggish first-half performance to secure a crucial away win, putting themselves in a commanding position ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea Face Early Struggles in Hostile Parken Stadium

A lively Parken Stadium welcomed Copenhagen’s European regulars as they hosted a Chelsea side desperate to end their poor away form, having not won on the road since mid-December.

That victory came in the league phase of this competition, where Chelsea breezed through with a perfect six-game record. However, a more testing encounter awaited them in Denmark.

The first half saw the visitors dominate possession but struggle to translate control into clear-cut opportunities.

Their frustrations were compounded when Malo Gusto was forced off through injury just 25 minutes in, disrupting Enzo Maresca’s plans.

Meanwhile, the best chance of the half fell to Copenhagen’s Amin Chiakha, who threatened Chelsea’s goal in an otherwise uneventful opening 45 minutes.

Reece James Breaks the Deadlock as Chelsea Improve

Looking to inject some urgency, Maresca made three half-time substitutions, and the changes had an immediate impact. Just two minutes into the second half, Chelsea struck the opener in clinical fashion.

Marc Cucurella advanced high up the left flank before cutting the ball back into the danger zone, where Reece James met it with a precise first-time finish into the bottom corner – Chelsea’s first shot on target.

Copenhagen nearly produced an instant response through Viktor Claesson, whose close-range shot struck the inside of the post before Robert Sánchez gratefully gathered the rebound.

That moment served as a wake-up call for Chelsea, who began to exert more control and create further chances. Cucurella found himself in a promising position but headed wide from an offside position, while Cole Palmer’s dipping strike failed to hit the target.

Enzo Fernández Doubles Chelsea’s Advantage

Chelsea’s persistence paid off again in the 66th minute when they capitalised on a defensive lapse from the hosts.

Tyrique George pounced on a turnover in Copenhagen’s defensive third before cutting the ball back for Enzo Fernández, who calmly slotted home with a side-footed finish to put the visitors 2-0 up.

With a commanding lead secured, Chelsea looked set to see out the game comfortably. However, Copenhagen found a lifeline 10 minutes from time.

A well-delivered set-piece from Marcos López found Gabriel Pereira, whose header proved too powerful for Sánchez to keep out, reducing the deficit and keeping the tie alive.

Chelsea in Control, But Copenhagen Still Have Hope

Despite a slow start, Chelsea’s much-improved second-half display ensured they took a vital first-leg advantage back to London.

While Copenhagen have now suffered just their second home defeat in 10 competitive outings, their task at Stamford Bridge remains daunting. The Blues, with their perfect European record intact, will be firm favourites to progress to the quarter-finals when the teams meet again next week.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Copenhagen vs Chelsea | UEFA Conference League 2024/25