Chelsea Draw Copenhagen in UEFA Conference League Round of 1

Chelsea have been drawn against Copenhagen in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16, following Friday’s draw. Enzo Maresca’s side, who topped the new 36-team league phase to secure the No.1 seeding, will travel to Denmark for the first leg on March 6, with the return fixture at Stamford Bridge a week later.

One of the biggest takeaways from the draw is that Chelsea and Fiorentina—widely seen as two of the tournament’s strongest sides—were placed in separate halves of the bracket. This means the two favorites cannot meet until the final on May 28 in Wroclaw, Poland.

Fiorentina, runners-up in the last two editions of the Conference League, have been paired with Panathinaikos as they seek a return to the final.

Path to the Quarter-Finals

If Chelsea overcome Copenhagen, they will face Legia Warsaw or Molde in the quarter-finals. Copenhagen, meanwhile, earned their spot in the last 16 by eliminating Germany’s Heidenheim in the knockout playoffs.

Notably, no French club even made it to the league phase, highlighting a surprising gap in their representation at this level.

Full Round of 16 Draw:

🔹 Chelsea vs. Copenhagen
🔹 Jagiellonia Bialystok vs. Cercle Brugge
🔹 Celje vs. Lugano
🔹 Pafos vs. Djurgarden
🔹 Borac Banja Luka vs. Rapid Vienna

Opinion: Chelsea’s Trophy to Lose?

With Premier League giants Chelsea now clear of Fiorentina until the final, many will argue that this is their tournament to win. Maresca’s squad is packed with talent, and on paper, Copenhagen should not pose a major threat. However, European football has produced plenty of surprises, and Chelsea must avoid complacency.

Do you think Chelsea will cruise to the final, or could an upset be on the cards? Share your thoughts! ⚽💙