Chelsea F.C. vs Djurgårdens IF Fotboll Lineups: Confirmed XI

Sixteen-year-old Reggie Walsh walked out at Stamford Bridge on May 8, 2025, not for a cameo, but for a full start. It was that kind of night for Chelsea — a controlled 1-0 win over Djurgårdens IF in the UEFA Conference League semifinal second leg that sent the Blues through 5-1 on aggregate, without needing to break much of a sweat. Manager Enzo Maresca rotated ten players from the previous league match, keeping things fresh for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle, while still getting the job done.

Date: 8 May 2025 · Competition: UEFA Conference League · Chelsea GK: Filip Jørgensen · Chelsea Captain: Reece James · Chelsea Forward: David Datro Fofana (George)

The table below consolidates the essential match parameters — formation, officials, and key match data — into a single reference point.

Who is Chelsea’s lineup against Djurgarden?

Chelsea named a heavily rotated side for the second leg at Stamford Bridge. Filip Jørgensen took his place in goal, with Malo Gusto returning after missing the Fulham match through injury. In defence, Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, and Marc Cucurella completed the back four.

The midfield saw Reece James captain the side from a deep-lying playmaking role, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall alongside him. Up front, Jadon Sancho operated on the left flank, Tyrique George led the line as striker, and Reggie Walsh earned his first full start at just 16 years old.

Confirmed Chelsea XI

Starting XI: Filip Jørgensen (GK); Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Marc Cucurella; Reece James (C), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall; Jadon Sancho, Tyrique George, Reggie Walsh (Chelsea FC Official lineup post).

Substitutes

Chelsea’s bench featured significant firepower despite the rotation: Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, Trevoh Chalobah, and Shim Mheuka among those available (Chelsea FC Official lineup post). During the match, Mheuka replaced Cucurella at half-time, while Chalobah and Genesis Antwi came on in the 70th minute (ESPN match report).

Key positions

Reggie Walsh’s full debut was the headline moment. The 16-year-old had made a substitute appearance in the first leg in Sweden, but this marked his first start for the club. He became the third youngest player in Chelsea’s history during his first-leg debut, according to the club’s official site (Chelsea FC Official).

The implication: Maresca’s willingness to trust Walsh and other youth players in a high-stakes European semifinal underscores the depth Chelsea have built this season.

What is the predicted starting lineup for Chelsea?

Pre-match predictions proved largely accurate, with fan communities and expert previews correctly identifying most of the XI. Reddit discussions had matched the Jørgensen-Acheampong-Tosin-Badiashile-Cucurella defensive shape, while Sky Sports previews highlighted the likelihood of significant rotation (Chelsea News team preview).

Fan predictions

Chelsea supporters correctly anticipated the rotation strategy, with many expecting Reggie Walsh to start after his first-leg substitute appearance. The prediction models also flagged Malo Gusto’s return to the squad.

Expert previews

Analysis from Chelsea News noted that “this is very much an exercise in just keeping players fit and fresh, Enzo Maresca knows that the real test comes on Sunday when we play Newcastle” (Chelsea News pre-match analysis). The prediction was spot-on.

Potential changes

The only uncertainty was whether James would start in midfield or at wing-back. Maresca opted for the midfield role with the captain’s armband, allowing James to dictate play from a deeper position than his usual right-back posting.

What this means: the transparency around squad rotation reflects a club confident enough to show their hand before a major Premier League fixture.

What are Djurgården’s starting lineups?

Djurgårdens IF arrived at Stamford Bridge with their official XI confirmed: Rinne in goal, behind a defence marshalled by Kosugi, Tenho, Une Larsson, and Bergh. The midfield featured Findell, Stensson, and Gulliksen, with Priske, Haarala, and Nguen leading the line (The Soccer Blog official lineups).

Official XI

The Swedish side named their strongest available lineup for the second leg, aware that overturning a 4-1 deficit from the first leg required an aggressive approach. However, they were unable to break down Chelsea’s rotated defence.

Key players

Djurgårdens relied on their experienced campaigners to stem the tide. The defensive unit worked to limit Chelsea’s attacking threats, while the forward line sought to capitalise on any rare chances.

Subs

The Swedish side’s substitutes included Danielson, who replaced Une Larsson in the 64th minute, and Alemayehu, who came on for Haarala at the same time. Vucenovic-Persson and Atlee Manneh featured in the closing stages (The Soccer Blog match timeline).

The catch: even with a full-strength lineup, the aggregate deficit was always going to be too steep for the Swedish side to overturn against a club with Chelsea’s financial muscle and squad depth.

Chelsea vs Djurgarden lineups today?

Both clubs confirmed their XIs well before kick-off at 20:00 GMT. Chelsea published their lineup via the official website in the afternoon, with UEFA also listing the confirmed sides on their competition platform (UEFA official lineups page).

Live updates

The match unfolded with Chelsea controlling 65% of possession at Stamford Bridge, according to one source (The Soccer Blog possession data — medium confidence). Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 38th-minute goal gave the hosts the lead, and the result was never in doubt thereafter.

Twitter sources

Both clubs provided real-time updates via their official social media accounts. Chelsea’s official account confirmed lineups and substitution changes throughout the match.

Stats preview

Pre-match analytics highlighted Chelsea’s dominance in the tie after the first leg. The 4-1 result in Sweden had effectively sealed progression before the second leg began.

The pattern: official club and competition platforms have become the primary real-time source for confirmed lineups, outpacing traditional broadcast feeds.

Key team news for Chelsea vs Djurgarden?

Chelsea’s team news centred on rotation. Enzo Maresca made ten changes from the side that beat Fulham in the Premier League, with Marc Cucurella the sole survivor. Robert Sánchez did not travel with the squad due to injury, with Filip Jørgensen starting in goal (Chelsea FC Official team news).

Defenders returning

Malo Gusto returned to the squad after missing the Fulham match through injury. Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Benoît Badiashile all featured in the rotated defence, with the back four largely untroubled by Djurgårdens’ attack.

Injuries or changes

Tosin Adarabioyo received a yellow card in the 17th minute (Sky Sports match teams), but completed the full match. The rotation policy meant several squad players gained valuable minutes.

Match context

Chelsea’s priority was clear: advance to the Conference League final while preserving key players for the Premier League run-in. The 1-0 win achieved both objectives (Chelsea News match context).

The implication: Maresca’s ability to leave Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Enzo Fernández on the bench against a European opponent illustrates the competitive advantage Chelsea’s squad investment provides across multiple fronts.

Chelsea’s clinical efficiency in this tie reflects a club operating on multiple fronts simultaneously. With the Conference League final secured and Premier League fixtures piling up, Maresca’s ability to rotate without dropping quality proved decisive. For Djurgårdens, the 5-1 aggregate defeat represents a harsh lesson against elite-level depth — a reminder that Financial Fair Play spending translates to tangible competitive advantages on the pitch.

For Chelsea, the path forward is clear: the Conference League final awaits, while Sunday’s Premier League test against Newcastle will determine whether the rotation gamble truly pays off. The bench may be depleted for that one, but with Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Enzo Fernández among those who watched from the sidelines at Stamford Bridge, Maresca still has cards to play.

Related reading: Chelsea F.C. vs Djurgårdens IF Fotboll Lineups: Confirmed · Liverpool F.C. vs Aston Villa – Preview, Predictions, Lineups

Chelsea’s confirmed XI with Jorgensen and James aligns closely with Djurgårdens predicted lineups analyzed from the Swedish side for this key semifinal.

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