Chelsea on Good Footing, Thrash Djurgarden in Europa Conference League Semi-Final 

Chelsea have taken sure step towards reaching the Europa Conference League final, securing a comfortable 4-1 win against Djurgarden in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

The Blues’ dominant performance in Stockholm has left them with one foot in the final, and they will look to complete the job in the return leg at Stamford Bridge next Thursday.

Despite making eight changes to their starting line-up, Chelsea’s squad depth and quality shone through as they settled the nerves with two first-half goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke.

The visitors’ dominance continued in the second half, with substitute Nicolas Jackson scoring a double to put the tie beyond Djurgarden’s reach.

The hosts did manage to pull one back through 18-year-old Isak Alemayehu’s first senior goal, but it was too little, too late.

Chelsea’s win has set them up for a potential historic achievement, as success in the competition would make them the first club to complete the full set of European trophies, having won the Champions League and Europa League twice.

Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Brentford dealt a blow to Nottingham Forest’s Champions League hopes with a 2-0 win at the City Ground.

Forest lacked creativity and struggled to break down a well-disciplined Brentford side, who took the lead through Kevin Schade’s prodded shot just before half-time.

Yoane Wissa sealed the win with a deft chip in the second half, leaving Forest sixth in the log, two points shy of third-placed Newcastle with four games to play.

Chelsea’s focus will now turn to their crucial Premier League meeting with newly crowned champions Liverpool on Sunday, but for now, they can bask in the glow of a convincing win in the Europa Conference League semi-final.

With a top-five Premier League place their main target, the Blues will look to maintain their momentum and secure a spot in the Champions League next season.