Chelsea are set to resume their Conference League campaign on Thursday night, locking horns with Copenhagen in the first leg of their round of 16 battle.
The Blues breezed through the newly formatted league phase, winning all six matches to claim the top spot and skip the hassle of a playoff tie. With Enzo Maresca’s squad still the clear frontrunners to lift the trophy, they’ll land in Denmark full of confidence after thrashing Southampton 4-0 in the Premier League.
However, Chelsea’s away form has been far from convincing, with four straight losses on the road across all competitions. Their last triumph outside of London came against Astana back in December, making this a test they can’t take lightly.
Copenhagen, on the other hand, had to dig deep to book their place in the round of 16. After stumbling at home against Heidenheim in the first leg of their knockout playoff, they roared back with a dramatic extra-time victory in the return fixture, setting up a high-stakes showdown with the tournament favorites.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Chelsea vs. Copenhagen live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Europa Conference League match in the U.S.:
TV channel: —
Live stream: Paramount+
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in the English language. Streaming options are available on Paramount+, which is offering a FREE trial for new subscribers.
What time does Chelsea vs. Copenhagen kick off?
This Conference League clash takes place at the Parken in Copenhagen, Denmark and kicks off on Thursday, March 6 at 6:45 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Thu, Mar. 6 | 12:45 p.m. |
| Central Time | Thu, Mar. 6 | 11:45 a.m. |
| Mountain Time | Thu, Mar. 6 | 10:45 a.m. |
| Pacific Time | Thu, Mar. 6 | 9:45 a.m. |
Chelsea vs. Copenhagen predicted lineups, team news
Chelsea head into Thursday’s clash missing several key players, with center-backs Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah sidelined alongside goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina.
Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill could be tasked with protecting Filip Jorgensen between the posts, while Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are likely to pull the strings in midfield.
Up front, the Blues will have to make do without Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, both ruled out of contention. Their absence could pave the way for Pedro Neto to lead the line, flanked by Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku in an attacking trio eager to make an impact.
Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Jorgensen (GK) — Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella — Fernandez, Caicedo — Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku — Neto.
Injured: Benoit Badiashile Trevoh Chalobah, Gabriel Slonina, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke.
Suspended: Mudryk (indefinitely)
Copenhagen head into this matchup with a few concerns on the injury front, as forwards Andreas Cornelius and Roony Bardghji remain doubtful, while winger Jordan Larsson is sidelined until at least mid-April.
In attack, Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Mohamed Elyounoussi, and Elias Achouri are expected to provide support behind striker Amin Chiakha, forming a creative trio to unlock Chelsea’s defense.
Meanwhile, midfield duo William Clem and Victor Froholdt, who started in the second-leg triumph over Heidenheim, could keep their places in the lineup. With Lukas Lerager and Oliver Hojer facing a race against time to be fit, the pair may once again anchor the center of the pitch.
Copenhagen predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ramaj (GK) — Diks, Pereira, Garananga, Meling — Clem, Froholdt — Gocholeishvili, Elyounoussi, Achouri — Chiakha.
Injured: Andreas Cornelius, Roony Bardghji, Jordan Larsson
Suspended: None
Chelsea vs. Copenhagen Prediction
With Chelsea’s recent defensive woes, Copenhagen will fancy their chances of causing trouble for the visitors’ backline.
That said, despite their patchy form, the Blues remain heavy favorites thanks to the firepower at Enzo Maresca’s disposal. Anything other than a Chelsea victory would come as a major shock, as the hosts face an uphill battle to pull off an upset.
- Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Copenhagen
Conference League fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Thursday, March 6
- Copenhagen vs. Chelsea (12:45 p.m.)
- Molde vs. Legia Warsaw (12:45 p.m.)
- Panathinaikos vs. Fiorentina (12:45 p.m.)
- Real Betis vs. Guimaraes (12:45 p.m.)
- Borac Banja Luka vs. Rapid Vienna (3:00 p.m.)
- Jagiellonia Bialystok vs. Cercle Brugge KSV (3:00 p.m.)
- NK Celje vs. FC Lugano (3:00 p.m.)
- Pafos vs. Djurgarden (3:00 p.m.)