The only side to do so, Chelsea went a perfect six from six in the league phase of the Conference League and the tournament favourites will look to extend their European winning streak at the Parken Stadium on Thursday.
Hosts Copenhagen battled their way through the playoff round, but it is hard to have much faith in them earning a positive result against the big-spending Blues, with Thursday’s last 16 first leg kicking off at 17:45 GMT.
- CHELSEA TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
- CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU ANYTIME GOALSCORER
- BIRGER MELING TO BE BOOKED
Chelsea Can Take Charge Of The Tie
With Chelsea scoring 26 goals and conceding just five en route to topping the league phase with a perfect 18 points, it is no surprise to see that Enzo Maresca’s men are strong favourites to lift the Conference League come May.
The Blues have shown they are not taking this competition lightly by adding Cole Palmer to their Conference League squad and his involvement should spell trouble for Copenhagen, even if the England star isn’t in top form.
Whether Palmer is on or off his game should not matter for Chelsea, though, as the star-studded Blues are taking on a Copenhagen side whose only home win in four Conference League home matches came against Hearts, who finished the league phase with just seven points.
There should at least be something for the home fans to cheer, however, as Chelsea conceded in four of their six league-phase matches while their only clean sheet in eight games came against Premier League basement boys Southampton.
CHELSEA TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
French Forward Fancied To Continue European Exploits
While Palmer has gone seven matches without scoring, he is still a serious threat and, if he is involved, he will attract plenty of attention from the Copenhagen defenders.
That should open up plenty of space for his supporting cast and Christopher Nkunku, who should lead the line with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu sidelined, could be the biggest beneficiary of that.
The French forward enjoyed an excellent league phase, netting five goals in as many games, and he has begun to show his ability in the Premier League, too, scoring and assisting in Chelsea’s 4-0 rout of Southampton last weekend.
Nkunku’s 11 shots on target during the league phase was the most of any player in the competition and he rates a solid anytime scorer bet in Copenhagen.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU ANYTIME GOALSCORER
Meling May Struggle In Copenhagen
Maresca rotated his side regularly throughout the league phase but, now into the knockout rounds, it would be no surprise to see the Italian use his star men more often.
That thought will have given the Copenhagen defenders nightmares all week and whether he is up against Palmer, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho or Tyrique George, left-back Birger Meling looks set for a tricky evening.
All of Chelsea’s wide men are full of tricks, while George and Neto in particular possess bags of pace, making Meling a prime yellow card candidate at the Parken Stadium.
The left-back has been booked in two of his six Conference League appearances and could pick up a third caution on Thursday.
BIRGER MELING TO BE BOOKED
