Look, let’s be real for a second. When the draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League semi-finals came out, most people didn't give the Swedish side much of a prayer. Chelsea f.c. vs Djurgårdens IF Fotboll looked, on paper at least, like a complete mismatch. You had the billion-pound squad from West London going up against a team from Stockholm that hadn't seen a European semi-final since 1987.
But football is weird. Sometimes the "certainty" of a result makes the actual game way more interesting because you're looking for the cracks. And while Chelsea did eventually stroll through to the final in Wroclaw, the two legs told a story of a young squad finding its feet and a Swedish underdog that refused to just roll over and die.
The Night Stockholm Shook
The first leg at the 3Arena on May 1, 2025, was basically a fever dream for the home fans. Honestly, the atmosphere was electric. You had smoke, non-stop singing, and a genuine belief that maybe—just maybe—they could rattle Enzo Maresca’s "B-team."
Chelsea started Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke, which feels like cheating in a Conference League semi-final. Sancho got the party started early, tucking one away in the 12th minute after a filthy cross from Enzo Fernandez. By the time Madueke doubled the lead just before the break, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the stadium.
Then things got chaotic in the second half.
Nicolas Jackson came off the bench and basically decided he wanted the match ball. He scored twice in six minutes. His second goal? Pure filth. He did a ball roll on the edge of the box that sent the defender for a hot dog before smashing it into the top corner. At 4-0, you’re thinking it's double digits.
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But then came Isak Alemayehu. The 18-year-old substitute rose highest at the back post to thud a header home in the 68th minute. The roar that followed was louder than if they’d actually won the game. It didn't change the 4-1 result, but it gave the Djurgården faithful something to cling to.
The Stamford Bridge Return
By the time May 8 rolled around for the second leg, the tie was basically over. 5-1 on aggregate is a mountain you don't climb with a spoon. Maresca knew it too. He handed a full debut to Reggie Walsh, who was only 16 years and 200 days old. Imagine being in high school on Monday and starting a European semi-final on Thursday. Crazy.
The game itself was... fine. It wasn't a classic. Chelsea dominated the ball—standard Maresca-ball—but struggled to really break down a very disciplined Djurgården block.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall eventually broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Tyrique George, who was livewire all night, turned beautifully and slipped KDH through. He clipped it in off the post. 1-0 on the night, 5-1 on aggregate. Job done.
Standout Performers and Young Blood
What’s interesting about these two games is how Chelsea used them to blood the next generation. We aren't just talking about one or two kids. By the end of the second leg, Chelsea had five teenagers on the pitch.
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- Reggie Walsh: The kid looked like he’d played 100 games at this level. Clean touches, zero fear.
- Tyrique George: He didn't get a goal, but his assist for Dewsbury-Hall showed exactly why the academy is so highly rated.
- Josh Acheampong: Solid at the back and looked comfortable tucking into midfield when asked.
Djurgården didn't leave empty-handed, though. They proved they could compete physically. Daniel Stensson was a bit of a menace in the middle, even if he did pick up a yellow card in both legs. And Keita Kosugi at left-back had some genuinely impressive moments against Sancho and Madueke.
Tactical Reality Check
If you’re a tactics nerd, the Chelsea f.c. vs Djurgårdens IF Fotboll matchup was actually a great study in "positional play" versus a low block.
Maresca had Marc Cucurella playing as a central midfielder at times. Think about that. A guy who spent half his career as a marauding left-back was suddenly the pivot. It worked because Djurgården sat so deep that Chelsea had all the time in the world to recycle the ball.
The Swedes, coached by Kim Bergstrand and Thomas Lagerlöf, tried to stay compact in a 4-3-3 that often looked like a 4-5-1. They were hunting for the transition. They got it a few times in the first leg, but the sheer individual quality of the Chelsea recovery pace—usually Tosin or Badiashile—snuffed it out.
Why This Match Matters
Most people will forget this tie in a year. They'll just see "Chelsea won 5-1" and move on. But for Djurgården, this was a massive financial and reputational boost. They knocked out teams like SK Rapid and Panathinaikos to get here.
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For Chelsea, it was the final hurdle before beating Real Betis in the final. It proved that the "squad depth" everyone talks about isn't just a meme. They could rotate ten players and still look like a cohesive unit.
Key Stats at a Glance
Chelsea finished the tie with something like 72% possession across 180 minutes. They outshot the Swedish side 34 to 12. But the most telling stat? The average age of the Chelsea XI in the second leg was under 23. That’s the vision the owners have been preaching, and for once, it actually looked like it was working.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Youth: If you haven't seen Reggie Walsh or Tyrique George play, find the highlights. These aren't just benchwarmers; they are the immediate future of the first team.
- Respect the UECL: People mock the Conference League, but the atmosphere in Stockholm proved it matters to the clubs involved. It's a gateway to European pedigree.
- Tactical Flexibility: Notice how Maresca shifts his full-backs. It's the blueprint for how Chelsea will play against bottom-half Premier League teams who sit deep.
The 5-1 aggregate scoreline doesn't tell the whole story of the grit shown by the Swedes or the nervy debut of a 16-year-old in London. It was a professional job by the Blues, but one that had a lot more heart than the scoreboard suggests.