Chelsea’s Road to the Conference League Last 16
Forget the Champions League—this year, Chelsea are hunting for glory in new territory: the UEFA Conference League. After cruising through a fiercely contested league phase with six straight wins and a staggering 26 goals, the Blues have landed FC Copenhagen as their next hurdle in the round of 16. These games are set for March 6 and March 13, and there’s no shortage of anticipation as Chelsea looks to put a four-year trophy drought behind them.
This isn’t just another tie for Chelsea fans hungry for success. The last time they collected a European prize was in the 2021 Champions League. Manager Enzo Maresca has thrown some fresh firepower into the mix, adding Cole Palmer to the knockout squad. Still, young Marc Guiu and recent signing Christopher Nkunku are leading the club’s scoring charts, notching 6 and 5 goals this campaign. Stamford Bridge is buzzing about this new opportunity, even if it’s in a less familiar competition.
A Changed Format and Big Names in the Mix
The Conference League looks different this season. Gone is the old-style group stage—now, 36 teams battle it out in a single league phase. The top eight glide straight into the knockouts, while those ranking 9th to 24th had to endure a playoff just to get here. It’s chaos, but in the best way, and offers new challenges for clubs across Europe.
The draw shook up the brackets, splitting the field into ‘silver’ and ‘green’ halves. Chelsea fell into the green bracket. If they edge past Copenhagen, they’ll take on the winner of Molde vs. Legia Warsaw in the quarters. That’s not all—they could meet familiar faces deeper into the competition, with other match-ups like Pafos vs. Djurgården and Borac vs. SK Rapid Vienna all jostling for a semi-final slot.
On the other side, Italian hopefuls Fiorentina drew Panathinaikos, while Spanish sole survivors Real Betis face Vitória SC. If Betis advance, they’ll clash with either Jagiellonia or Cercle Brugge. The path to the final is crowded, and no club will find it easy.
Mark these dates—quarter-finals come on April 10 and 17, then it’s the semis on May 1 and 8. And if Chelsea fans are making travel plans, circle May 28. That’s when Wroclaw, Poland, will host the conference league final at Wroclaw Stadium. There’s a potential twist: Chelsea’s home games in the later knockout rounds might need rescheduling, so keep an eye on the calendar.
With new faces in the squad, changes to the format, and fierce European rivals, Chelsea isn’t just making up the numbers. They’re after a first-ever Conference League crown—and they won’t have it easy.