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

Chelsea’s second-string squad delivered a controlled 1-0 win over Djurgårdens IF at Stamford Bridge on 8 May 2025, reaching the UEFA Conference League final 5-1 on aggregate. Reggie Walsh, aged 16, earned his first senior start while Reece James captained the side from midfield.

Match Date: 8 May 2025 ·
Competition: UEFA Conference League ·
Chelsea Captain: Reece James ·
Second Leg Result: Chelsea 1-0 Djurgården (5-1 agg) ·
Key Midfielders: Enzo Fernández, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Who is Chelsea’s lineup against Djurgarden?

Chelsea’s confirmed XI came directly from the club’s official channel (Chelsea FC Official), with Filip Jorgensen between the posts. The back four featured Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, and Cucurella. In midfield, Reece James captained the side from the centre, paired with Dewsbury-Hall, Fernández, and Madueke. Sancho and George led the attack.

Confirmed Starting XI

The table below lists the confirmed Chelsea lineup as announced by the club’s official channel.

The pattern across sources shows remarkable consistency: Jorgensen anchored the defence, with the midfield quartet of James, Dewsbury-Hall, Fernández, and Madueke controlling proceedings.

Key Players and Positions

Reggie Walsh, aged 16, received his first senior start for Chelsea (Chelsea FC Official). Malo Gusto made his 50th start for the club. Marc Cucurella was the sole retainer from the first leg at 4-1 (Chelsea FC Official).

Substitutes List

Chelsea’s bench included Sanchez, Colwill, Neto, Fernández, Madueke, Jackson, and Palmer (Sky Sports). Cucurella was subbed for Mheuka at 76 minutes during the match (ESPN).

What this means: the reserve squad demonstrated Premier League quality, suggesting Chelsea can compete on multiple fronts simultaneously without sacrificing European ambitions.

What is the predicted starting lineup for Chelsea?

Prior to confirmation, several outlets published predicted lineups. The UEFA preview suggested Jörgensen; Acheampong, Badiashile, Adarabioyo, Gusto; James, Dewsbury-Hall; Rak-Sakyi, Palmer, Sancho; George (UEFA.com). Sports Illustrated predicted a 4-2-3-1 with Jorgensen, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile (SI.com). Goal.com’s version included Cucurella and Fernandes alongside James and Dewsbury-Hall (Goal.com).

Fan and Expert Predictions

Online communities debated formations ahead of kick-off, with many anticipating heavy rotation following the 4-1 first-leg advantage. Reddit discussions predicted a blend of youth and experience, with some correctly anticipating Walsh’s inclusion (Sky Sports).

Tactical Formation

The confirmed lineup operated in a 4-4-2 shape with James nominally a right-back but functioning as an auxiliary midfielder when Chelsea built from the back. The midfield four provided numerical superiority against Djurgården’s three-man central unit.

Player Fitness Updates

Chelsea’s injury list heading into the match included D. Fofana (knee), Guiu (hamstring), W. Fofana (hamstring), Anselmino (hamstring), and Kellyman (hamstring) (UEFA.com).

The catch: despite missing five players, the available squad still contained enough quality to dispatch a European semi-final opponent comfortably.

What are Djurgården’s starting lineups?

Djurgårdens IF sent out Jacob Rinne in goal for the second leg (Sky Sports). Their confirmed XI included Kosugi, Tenho, Larsson (captain), Bergh, and Finndell across the pitch.

Official Djurgården XI

The following table shows the Djurgården lineup confirmed by Sky Sports.

UEFA’s preview had listed an alternative: Rinne; Tenho, Une, Danielson, Kosugi; Finndell, Stensson, Gulliksen; Haarala, Nguen; Priske (UEFA.com). Tribuna published: Rinne, Bergh, Kosugi, Tenho, Une-Larsson, Danielsson, Stensson, Vučenović Persson (Tribuna.com), though these variations lacked consensus across sources.

Key Threats

The Swedish side operated in a 4-3-3, attempting to press high and exploit space behind Chelsea’s full-backs. Their best chances came from set-piece situations, with Larsson’s delivery from wide areas particularly dangerous before he picked up a yellow card at the 64th minute (Sky Sports).

Substitutes

Djurgården’s bench featured Croon, Danielsson, Alemayehu, Atlee Manneh, Selfvén, and Vucenovic Persson (Sky Sports). The visitor’s forward rotation never posed serious problems for the Chelsea defence.

The trade-off: Djurgården’s injuries compounded their difficulties, with Aslund (foot), Ekdal (hamstring), Schüller (hamstring), Säfqvist (elbow), Žugelj (foot), and Johansson (knee) unavailable (UEFA.com). Their goalkeeper Filip Manojlovic was not registered for European competition (Sports Mole).

Who will Chelsea face in the Conference League final?

Chelsea advanced to face Real Betis in the Conference League final, completing a 5-1 aggregate victory over the Swedish champions. The first leg had ended 4-1 in Chelsea’s favour in Sweden (Sports Mole).

Match Context

The semi-final second leg took place at Stamford Bridge on 8 May 2025, with kick-off at 19:00 UTC (21:00 CET) in front of 32,464 spectators (Sky Sports). Referee Joao Pinheiro from Portugal officiated the match (Chelsea FC Official).

Path to Final

Chelsea’s route included comfortable victories throughout the knockout stages, with the rotation policy allowing key players to rest ahead of domestic league commitments. Playing a second-string side, they cantered into the final with minimal fuss (ESPN).

Opponent Analysis

Real Betis represent a step up in quality from Djurgården, with La Liga pedigree and European experience. The final will test whether Chelsea’s depth can sustain a title challenge alongside Premier League priorities.

Why this matters: lifting the Conference League would mark Chelsea’s first European trophy since their Champions League triumph in 2021, restoring their continental credibility under new management.

What to expect in Chelsea vs Djurgarden lineups?

The confirmed lineups revealed Chelsea’s commitment to squad rotation while maintaining competitive standards. Every position featured a player capable of starting week-in, week-out at Premier League level.

Live Updates

Real-time lineup confirmation came from ChelseaFC.com (Chelsea FC Official) approximately 90 minutes before kick-off, with Sky Sports corroborating the XI and adding minute-by-minute match events (Sky Sports).

Stats and Formations

The match statistics showed Chelsea dominating possession and creating the clearer chances. Dewsbury-Hall’s 38th-minute strike proved the decisive moment, converting Cucurella’s pull-back from the left flank. The bench strength was evident: Caicedo, Palmer, and Jackson waited for opportunities that never truly arrived (Chelsea FC Official).

Twitter Lineups

Social media confirmation aligned closely with official sources, with fan accounts quickly sharing the confirmed XI once published. The engagement around Reggie Walsh’s inclusion generated significant discussion given his tender age.

The implication: social channels have become primary verification tools for match-going fans, complementing traditional broadcaster and club channels.

Match Timeline

The second leg unfolded with Chelsea controlling proceedings from the opening whistle:

The timeline below documents key match events as recorded by multiple sources.

The pattern: Chelsea’s goal came from sustained pressure in the first half, with the second half becoming a controlled showcase of game management rather than urgent pursuit of further goals.

Confirmed vs Rumoured

What They Said

Chelsea, playing a second-string team, cantered into the Europa Conference League final with a regulation 1-0 win over Swedish side Djurgarden.

— ESPN (News Agency)

Enzo Maresca has made eight changes to his line-up for tonight’s UEFA Conference League semi-final.

— Chelsea FC Official (Official Club)

handing a first start to 16-year-old Reggie Walsh.

— Chelsea FC Official (Official Club)

Bottom line

Chelsea demonstrated that squad depth is not merely a luxury but a strategic advantage. Against Djurgården, a rotated eleven featuring a 16-year-old debutant controlled the match and advanced 5-1 on aggregate. The bench players who didn’t feature—Caicedo, Palmer, Jackson—represent quality that most Conference League rivals simply don’t possess.

For Chelsea supporters, the final against Real Betis offers the chance to collect a first trophy of the Maresca era. For neutral observers, the lineups confirm that European competition has become accessible to Premier League clubs treating it as secondary to domestic matters—a concerning dynamic for the competition’s competitive balance.

For Real Betis, the task is clear: prepare for a Chelsea side that can rotate eight players and still win comfortably, or accept that the trophy is likely heading to west London.