Chelsea took a significant step toward the Europa Conference League quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Copenhagen at Parken Stadium on 6 March 2025, Softfootball repoerts. Despite a stern test from the Danish side, the Blues showcased composure, attacking quality, and defensive resilience to claim an important away result.
Reece James opened the scoring early in the second half, firing a powerful shot past Copenhagen goalkeeper D. Ramaj in the 46th minute. His goal provided Chelsea with a vital advantage, rewarding the team’s patience after a cagey first half dominated by tactical caution.
Enzo Fernández doubled the lead in the 65th minute, capitalizing on a swift counter-attack and slotting the ball home with precision. Fernández’s clinical finish reflected Chelsea’s ability to exploit spaces on the break, demonstrating the creativity and threat of Maresca’s midfield.
Copenhagen pulled one back in the 79th minute through Gabriel Pereira, who headed in a cross to briefly bring the hosts back into contention. While the goal gave the home fans a spark of hope, Chelsea held firm for the remainder of the match, managing the game efficiently and denying Copenhagen any further clear opportunities.
Chelsea dominated possession at 66% and completed 678 passes with an exceptional 96% accuracy, showcasing control and intelligent build-up play. Defensively, the Blues limited Copenhagen to just five shots, three on target, with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and his backline maintaining composure under pressure.
Manager Erik Maresca praised his team’s resilience and tactical discipline, noting that the away victory provides an excellent platform for the return leg. Copenhagen will need to be aggressive at Stamford Bridge to overturn the deficit, while Chelsea can approach the second leg with confidence, knowing they have an away goal advantage.
With Reece James and Enzo Fernández leading the way, Chelsea look well-positioned to progress in Europe, demonstrating both defensive solidity and attacking flair in a high-stakes knockout fixture.
