UEFA Conference League - Chelsea VS Legia Warszawa Prediction
UEFA Conference League - Chelsea VS Legia Warszawa
Match Time:18-04-2025 03:00 Friday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Chelsea
With a three-goal advantage in the bag and a hectic domestic schedule to manage, Enzo Maresca is expected to rotate heavily for Thursday night’s second leg. The comfortable cushion gives Chelsea the opportunity to rest key players while handing valuable minutes to several exciting young prospects and fringe squad members.
Among those likely to be given the nod are Tyrique George, who opened the scoring in Warsaw, and Josh Acheampong, both of whom featured in the group stage matches, particularly against Astana. Additionally, Maresca could offer starting roles to academy talents such as Mathis Amougou, Shumaira Mheuka, and Samuel Rak-Sakyi, with all three in line to showcase their development on the European stage.
From the senior squad, Reece James could finally make his long-awaited return to the starting XI after being named on the bench during the weekend’s draw with Ipswich Town. His inclusion would offer a timely boost for match fitness ahead of tougher Premier League encounters. Elsewhere, Benoît Badiashile, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Christopher Nkunku are all expected to start, while Filip Jørgensen will likely be handed goalkeeping duties in place of Djordje Petrovic or Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Filip Jørgensen in goal. The defensive line is expected to include Josh Acheampong at right-back, Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoît Badiashile as the central pairing, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi at left-back.
In midfield, Reece James may be deployed in a hybrid or inverted role alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Mathis Amougou, providing both structure and progression from deep areas.
Further forward, Tyrique George should retain his place on the right wing, with Christopher Nkunku operating centrally as the creative focal point, and Shumaira Mheuka lining up on the left in what should be a fluid and pacey front three for Chelsea against Legia Warszawa.
Legia Warszawa
With the tie effectively beyond reach after a 3-0 defeat in the first leg, Goncalo Feio may look to preserve his key players ahead of Legia Warszawa’s domestic cup final in early May. Having fielded a strong side at the weekend against Jagiellonia Białystok in the Ekstraklasa, the Portuguese coach could opt for rotation at Stamford Bridge, using the fixture as an opportunity to rest regular starters and hand fringe players rare European minutes.
Legia are boosted by the return of Jan Ziolkowski and Artur Jedrzejczyk, both of whom are back from suspension and expected to start in defence. However, there are notable absentees in the attacking department. Ilya Shkurin, despite being one of the club’s standout performers, remains unavailable due to UEFA registration constraints, while both Marc Gual and Bartosz Kapustka are major doubts through iujury.
One familiar face for English fans will be Ruben Vinagre, who is expected to start at left-back. The Portuguese defender spent several years in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers and also had a brief loan spell at Everton, making his return to these shores a personal subplot in an otherwise one-sided tie.
Legia are likely to deploy a 4-3-3 formation. In goal, Kacper Tobiasz will continue between the posts. The back four will feature Pawel Wszolek at right-back, Jan Ziolkowski and Artur Jędrzejczyk as the centre-back pairing, with Rúben Vinagre on the left side of defence.
In midfield, Claude Goncalves, Rafal Augustyniak, and Vahan Bichakhchyan are expected to form a compact and industrious trio tasked with limiting Chelsea’s dominance in central areas.
Up front, Kacper Chodyna and Wojciech Urbański should take up the wide attacking roles, flanking veteran striker Tomas Pekhart, who offers physical presence and aerial threat but may find service hard to come by against a technically superior Chelsea side.
Given the aggregate deficit and upcoming cup final, Legia’s primary objective will be to avoid another heavy defeat, focus on damage control, and emerge with fitness and morale intact for more realistic silverware ambitions.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Rak-Sakyi; James, Dewsbury-Hall, Amougou; George, Nkunku, Mheuka
Legia Warsaw possible starting lineup:
Tobiasz; Wszolek, Ziolkowski, Jedrzejczyk, Ruben Vinagre; Goncalves, Augustyniak, Bichakhchyan; Chodyna, Pekhart, Urbanski
Chelsea vs Legia Warsaw Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Last week's clash was the maiden meeting between the two sides.
Chelsea have advanced from each of their last 15 European knockout ties when winning the first leg away from home.
Legia are aiming to qualify for the semifinal of a European competition for the first time since the 1990-91 European Cup Winners' Cup.
Chelsea's games in the Conference League this season have produced an average of 3.9 goals per game.
Legia are winless in four prior games played in England (two losses).
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Legia Warsaw
With Legia already down and out, Chelsea's kids should be given an opportunity to prove themselves in the first team, and that could encourage a positive performance, which may result in another handsome victory for Maresca's side.
Legia will know deep down the tie is beyond them, and with a cup final coming up in just two weeks, Feio may be tempted to prioritise that already, and hold back slightly in this one.
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