Chelsea v FC Copenhagen: Free Tips, Prediction and Odds

UEFA Conference League favourites Chelsea earned a 2-1 first-leg lead at FC Copenhagen’s Parken Stadion last week and will look to finish the job of reaching the quarter-finals at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes to his side in Denmark, but did include Cole Palmer in this competition for the first time, although the England star remained fairly anonymous.

He might keep Palmer back for the Blues’ upcoming Premier League clash with Arsenal, but Chelsea’s squad depth is unrivalled in this competition and the envy of Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup.

He was without several key players, including experienced midfield duo Mohamed Elyounoussi and Thomas Delaney plus exciting winger Roony Bardghi, for the first leg while centre-back Kevin Diks picked up an ankle injury in that game.

A depleted line-up was held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Sonderjyske on Sunday as Chelsea were churning out a 1-0 home league win over Leicester City.

Chelsea v FC Copenhagen free betting tips and predictions

Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score - 5/4

Chelsea should win the second leg too, but you just never quite know with Maresca’s men this season.

Palmer’s plummeting form and the constant chopping and changing in this competition make them hard to read.

They do not have to win the game to progress either, which adds another element of uncertainty.

Copenhagen are not enjoying their best moment this season after dropping points against two struggling clubs recently, but they won’t be facing a low defensive block in London and have nothing to lose.

They played well at times in the first leg and can cause problems for a Chelsea side who still cannot be trusted to keep a clean sheet.

The Blues conceded at home to Shamrock Rovers in the league phase and twice when Gent visited Stamford Bridge in October.

Backing both teams to score again looks a good option and the odds for over 2.5 goals in the game look attractive.

A bet combining both scenarios makes a lot of sense too with Copenhagen capable of raising their game to meet the occasion, as they did when they lost both legs of last season’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie 3-1 to a far superior Manchester City side.

Total goal minutes - Over 160 minutes - 6/5

Chelsea, like one or two other inconsistent Premier League clubs, have developed a habit of looking more dangerous when they are behind in games.

The Blues have battled back from deficits to draw against Bournemouth and beat West Ham this year, but they have also lost three other games after taking the lead - at Manchester City, Brighton and Aston Villa.

There always seems to be the potential for a plot twist when they are in action and that characteristic has often led to some very late goals.

The total goal minutes in their games have reached some very high figures as a result, with 155 in the Villa defeat, 182 in the win over Southampton and 190 in the first leg against the Danish side.

With Copenhagen almost duty bound to chase the game at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea looking to pick them off to seal the tie, a game with over 160 goal minutes could be on the cards.

Enzo Fernandez to be carded - 7/2

When Enzo Fernandez completed his British record £107million move to Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 he stated his ambition was to compete for the "biggest trophies".

Whether he deems the UEFA Conference League to be among them is anyone’s guess but he can’t be too pleased to see that Benfica have subsequently played 22 UEFA Champions League games to Chelsea’s four.

Fernandez typically played with his heart on his sleeve in Copenhagen and was a ball of energy that lifted the Blues’ performance after he entered as a second-half substitute.

He scored a crucial goal that puts them ahead in the tie and collected a needless booking for kicking the ball away.

It was the fourth yellow card awarded to him in Chelsea’s last seven games and it probably won’t be his last before the campaign is out.

Only three clubs have committed more fouls in the UEFA Conference League than Copenhagen and, because Fernandez occasionally takes it upon himself to mete out revenge, he looks like a solid candidate to receive a card on Thursday.

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Chelsea v FC Copenhagen odds

Chelsea - 19/50
Draw - 15/4
FC Copenhagen - 13/2

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.