Chelsea vs Legia Warsaw LIVE!
It was another humiliating performance for Chelsea as the Blues were beaten 1-2 by Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge.
While the Blues will still progress on aggregate, it was a turgid showing endemic of the season. Warsaw came into the match three goals behind and sitting fifth in the Polish top flight, yet were every part the better side on Thursday night.
Former Tottenham man Tomas Pekhart opened the scoring from the spot after a typically clumsy Filip Jorgensen tackle before Steve Kapuadi added a second from a corner after the break. Sandwiched between the two goals was a Marc Cucurella tap-in.
Enzo Maresca had named a strong lineup as he looked to inject some confidence into his side ahead of this weekend’s trip to Fulham, and the gamble did not pay off as his side were roundly outplayed.
Chelsea vs Legia Warsaw latest news
- Kick-off: 8pm, Stamford Bridge
- GOAL! Warsaw take shock lead
- GOAL! Cucurella equalises for the hosts
- Palmer hooked
- GOAL! Warsaw back in front
FULL TIME: Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:53And not a moment too soon. Another abject showing from Chelsea, who lose at home to the fifth-best team in Poland.
They posed little threat throughout the night and defended dreadfully, lucky to get away with only two conceded.
Loud boos ring out around the ground as the whistle blows.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:49 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Four minutes are added.
Four minutes too many for the Chelsea players, staff, and fans, many of whom are already trudging to the exits.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:49 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Neto’s first involvement of note sees him bomb down the right wing and sting a ball low across the box, but it is blocked and cleared.
One would hope there is not too much extra time here. Chelsea will want this to be over with as soon as possible.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:4586mins: Another grim finish, this time for Warsaw. Chodyna takes a half volley and gets under it badly, firing his shot into the second tier of the stands.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:43 , Arthur Ferridge84mins: Chelsea’s finishing this second half has been dreadful. They work another great chance as George plays an incisive diagonal ball to Madueke, but the England international shoots well over.
It is wasteful from the hosts again, who have nobody to blame but themselves for tonight’s result, a fresh humiliation.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:41 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Tyrique George sees his name in lights and lashes a shot at goal, but it is into Row Z.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:40 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Maresca rolls the dice again, removing Sancho in favour of Neto.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:40 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: Sancho whips a threatening cross into the box and Dewsbury-Hall gets on the end of it, but his header is almost perfectly vertical. and easily claimed by the keeper.
10 minutes now for Chelsea to rescue their honour in this tie. They are set to progress, but at what cost?
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
21:36 , Arthur FerridgeStarting to wonder whether we might actually see a team booed off here for reaching a European semi-final.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:34 , Arthur Ferridge74mins: Oh, not again. Madueke tears down the wing and cuts a cross into the box for Tyrique George to finish, but the offside flag is up against Madueke.
Both men have been impressive since coming on. You would think it is a matter of time.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:29 , Arthur Ferridge70mins: Another penalty for Legia? The referee says no.
Jorgensen spills Morashita’s shot and takes out Luquinhas as he looks to clear his lines, but the ref isn’t having it.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge67mins: Chelsea have had most of the ball since Legia scored their second, but, as ever, they aren’t doing an awful lot with it.
They get close to the box, realise there is nowhere to go, pass back out. Rinse, repeat.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:2161mins: How have Chelsea not scored?
Madueke and George both manage shorts at goal in a penalty-box scramble, but neither can convert as the ‘keeper Kovačević saves and Kapuadi makes a goalmouth clearance.
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:1859mins: See below, the aforementioned flares. Heavy smoke rolls over the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
“How did they get them in?” ponder the commentators.
UEFA fine incoming for Legia pic.twitter.com/bqATlHKaQV
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) April 17, 2025
Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Madueke and Gusto come on for Palmer and Cucurella. Both men look pretty miserable as they shuffle off the pitch.
Madueke scored a brace off the bench last week. Can he do the same tonight?
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
21:15The pyro is out in the away end. It is rocking.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
21:14 , Arthur FerridgeJust unbelievably bad defending from Chelsea. How can a corner come in and the next two touches both come from opposition players within 12 and then six yards of goal?
GOAL! Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warsaw (4-2)
21:13 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: Warsaw are back in front, and it is Kapuadi! The man who was just told off for squaring up to Reece James nods Legia ahead.
Once again, questions will be asked about Filip Jorgensen, who got hands to the ball but couldn’t quite keep it out.
Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge53mins: Handbags are out. Terse words shared between Warsaw’s Kapuadi and Reece James. The referee makes them shake hands over it and we will play on.
Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Warsaw with the best chance of the half so far. Goncalves heads towards goal from Morashita’s cross.
Jorgensen saves, before a follow up shot goes behind for a corner.
Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
21:0748mins: Moments later, Badiashille is in the book. More his poor start to the half than the team’s.
Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
21:06 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: A crossfield ball from Badiashille intended for Tosin flies out of bounds.
A sloppy start to the half for the Blues.
SECOND HALF: Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
21:04 , Arthur FerridgeWe are back underway for the second half and Maresca has indeed made changes.
Tyrique George replaces Nicolas Jackson, a move which should see Christopher Nkunku move to striker.
How does Maresca play this?
20:59 , Arthur FerridgeWill he bring on the kids, or stick with the first team?
With Chelsea looking about as turgid as ever, the young guns’ dynamism might be useful.
Nicolas Jackson has been rather anonymous so far - he could be hooked in favour of the striker Shim Mheuka.
Tyrique George on for the struggling Christopher Nkunku would not be a surprise, either.
Cole Palmer could also be hooked as Warsaw players seem intent on hurting him in one way or another. He has drawn several fouls in the first half, and been on the receiving end of some bruising tackles.
HALFTIME: Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
20:48 , Arthur FerridgeThat will be that for the first half, and it is far from the dominant showing Maresca would have had in mind when he put together that starting XI.
Jorgensen is the villain for Chelsea after clumsily giving away an early penalty and fumbling what should have been a save, but Cucurella’s goal will go some lengths towards sparing his blushes.
Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
20:44 , Arthur Ferridge43mins: Scratch that - VAR arrives to spoil the fun.
Cucurella falls victim to a marginal offside.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Legia Warsaw (5-1)
20:43 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Marc Cucurella, the man that you are.
Palmer hits a high diagonal ball into Nkunku who dinks it back into a central area for Cucurella to tap home. It is an even easier finish than his equaliser.
In true Chelsea fashion, the team’s most potent goalscorer is a full back.
Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
20:41 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: Palmer is hacked down by Goncalves for a Chelsea free kick. He has really been in the wars tonight - Maresca may well consider hooking him at half in the name of preventing injury.
Reece James floats the resulting free-kick into the area and Acheampong heads weakly goalwards, but it is saved easily.
Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Goncalves spots Jorgensen off his line and looks for the chip from halfway, but his shot is just off target.
In a season where none of Chelsea’s goalkeeper union can hold onto the number one spot, Jorgensen is not doing much to bolster his chances.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:36 , Arthur FerridgeRelief for Chelsea. A good little run continues for Jadon Sancho with another assist and as ever Marc Cucurella ends up Chelsea’s biggest penalty box threat.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Legia Warsaw (4-1)
20:34 , Arthur Ferridge33mins: Chelsea’s top goalscorer in 2025 strikes again! Chelsea are level on the night and restore their three-goal lead in the tie.
It is Sancho on the ball - he drives to the byline and pulls it back for the Spaniard who is patiently waiting on the penalty spot to tap home.
Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:33 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Legia are enjoying a spell of possession but aren’t making a massive amount of progress with it. They seem content to pass in triangles around Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:27 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: An awkward cross comes in to Cucurella and he aims to shoot first time, but his effort is not quite where it needs to be, floating behind for a goal kick.
Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: Ruben Vinagre (remember him?) launches a free kick goalwards and it is not particularly close, sailing into the Matthew Harding end.
Malik Ouzia at an increasingly angsty Stamford Bridge
20:23 , Arthur FerridgeExactly midway through the first-half and the ghosts of Ipswich are revived as the home crowd jeers its disapproval at some slow play out from the back.
Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:22 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Morashita goes far too close for comfort.
The Legia winger flies down the right flank, skinning both Adarabioyo and Cucurella, and his shot beats Jorgensen...
...but it goes just wide.
A let off for Chelsea, though replays indicate he may have been offside anyway.
Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:21 , Arthur Ferridge19mins: The tackle from Pekhart was not outrageous, but it does seem to have stung Palmer somewhat.
He looks to have been caught on the foot or ankle, but is content to play on.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:20 , Arthur FerridgeThe goalscorer Pekhart has just flown into James and Palmer in quick succession, getting a bit of ball and a bit of man on each occasion. Palmer is hobbling around.
Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:17 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: The confidence-boosting win Maresca was after tonight seems to be fading. To name such a strong squad and come away with a loss, on the day or in the tie, would be rather embarrassing.
A quarter of an hour gone and Chelsea are passing around the back, seemingly confounded already.
Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:15 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: It is that time of night already, then. A sentence I never wanted to have to write on this blog, but the early Warsaw goal demands it:
They couldn’t, could they?
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:13 , Arthur FerridgeWell then. A terrible minute for Filip Jorgensen, who gives away the penalty and then somehow fails to keep a frankly rubbish spot-kick out. A formality of an evening is one more Warsaw goal away from getting very, very interesting.
There are, all of a sudden, an awful lot of topless men in the away end.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Legia Warsaw (3-1)
20:11 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: Oh, Filip.
The keeper really should have done better there. Pekhart lashes his penalty goalwards and Jorgensen gets both hands to it but can’t quite keep it out.
Chelsea 0-0 Legia Warsaw
20:109mins: Penalty to Legia Warsaw!
Jorgensen dives in on Pekhart and completely misses the ball.
It is the right decision but a nightmare start for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Legia Warsaw
20:076mins: A bit of a clumsy attack from Chelsea. Jackson flicks a pass on to Sancho who cuts back to Nkunku, whose shot is saved.
Palmer looks to follow it up with a bouncing header but it is well saved by Kovačević.
Two good early chances for the Blues, though.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:05 , Arthur FerridgeIf the plan with this lineup was to get Cole Palmer back up and running then that was almost the dream start. It should have been, too, but that extra touch just took him a little wide.
Chelsea 0-0 Legia Warsaw
20:03 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: A poor start for Palmer. The Brit pounces on a loose ball and streaks into the box. He is one-on-one with the keeper and lashes his shot well wide.
Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge
20:03 , Arthur FerridgeOnly about a thousand Warsaw fans have travelled but there was a huge police and security presence outside Stamford Bridge waiting for them this evening and they’re more than making themselves heard inside the ground now. There are expected to be thousands of empty seats in the various home sections.
KICK OFF
20:01 , Arthur FerridgeThe Liquidator blares, the players are out, the Conference League anthem is played, and the ‘London’s first, London’s finest’ crowdsurfer makes a traditional appearance.
Should Chelsea go on to win the Conference League, they will be the first club ever, not just in London, to win all three major European competitions.
They must first get the job done tonight, though.
Around the grounds in the Conference League
19:55 , Arthur FerridgeFor those curious, the other quarter-finals are now complete.
Real Betis progress after drawing 1-1 with Jagiellonia, earning a 3-1 aggregate win.
They will face Fiorentina in the next round. They move on with a 2-2 draw at home to Celje for an aggregate score of 4-3.
Just ten minutes to kickoff
19:49 , Arthur FerridgeWe are just moments away from another European night under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
Could there be a better way to spend a Thursday?
Maresca speaks ahead of kick off
19:47 , Arthur FerridgeAnd, as ever, he gives little away. Here are his thoughts on the squad, the academy, and the fans.
On starting more academy players: “We love to give the youngsters chances. We saw in the season, not only in the conference league, but I think they need a process, a path, hopefully we can give them some minutes in the game.”
What do you want to see? “Another good performance, good result. Reaching the semi-final is a good target.”
On fans backing the team: “We already spoke a lot about this, and I think it is clear they support us all season, but it is not just our fans. It is everywhere. Hopefully, we can win and give them something to cheer.”
Who will be the first off the bench for Chelsea today?
19:44 , Arthur FerridgeIf all goes to plan for Maresca, he will want Jackson and Palmer to bag some goals in the first half to get a little confidence boost, but which of the young ‘uns will be first out?
Maresca spoke incredibly highly of Acheampong and George after the first leg, and both have already featured heavily in the competition already.
The same is true of Shim Mheuka and Sam Rak-Sakyi.
Landon Emenalo, though, could make a headline. Today marks his first inclusion in a senior squad, and his father is reasonably well known at the club, having served as technical director there between 2011 and 2017.
Sancho with a point to prove
19:31 , Arthur FerridgeIt is no secret that Jadon Sancho hasn’t quite lived up to expectation since he arrived on loan from Manchester United on deadline day back August.
He has scored just three goals this season in just under 2000 minutes played in all competitions, his equaliser against Ipswich at the weekend providing the briefest of glimpses into his innate quality.
Chelsea are obliged to purchase him from United this summer for a reported £20-25m, but they can buy their way out of said obligation for £5m.
Enzo Maresca is surely considering his options. Can Sancho prove his worth tonight?
Has Palmer found his shooting boots?
19:23 , Arthur FerridgeThat remains to be seen, but there is at least a new set of footwear for the goal-shy Brit, who now has not scored since January 14.
He opts for Air Max cleats for Thursday night, complete with cold faces and the flags of England and St Kitts and Nevis.
A big shakeup for Warsaw
19:09 , Arthur FerridgeIt is a proper shuffle for Warsaw as they look to pull back the three goal deficit from the first leg: we have a new formation and a new goalkeeper among the changes.
It was a 5-4-1 last time out, and Feio opts instead for a straight 4-3-3 - a more attacking option as he looks for quick goals.
He makes three changes to the squad from the reverse fixture, adding a new goalkeeper, dropping centre-back Rafal Augustyniak, and full back Pawel Wszolek.
Legia Warsaw confirmed team news
19:05 , Arthur FerridgeWarsaw head coach Goncalo Feio reveals his squad.
Legia Warsaw XI: Kovacevic; Vinagre, Kapuadi, Ziblkowsku, Pankov; Goncalves, Elitim, Oyedele; Luquinhas, Pekhart, Morishita
An odd squad
18:57 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Maresca has gone much, much stronger than anyone expected him to. Did he forget the score in the first leg?
He starts Reece James, Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, and Nicolas Jackson, all of whom are expected to feature this weekend against Fulham.
On the bench are all the academy starlets who had been expected to start, including Amougou, Mheuka, Rak-Sakyi, and Tyrique George, who opened the first leg scoring with his first senior goal.
Maresca will hope his first teamers can quickly put the tie to bed so he can rest their legs and give the kids a run out.
Chelsea confirmed team news: Jackson starts
18:46 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Maresca shows his hand.
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Cucurella, James, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku, Jackson
High alert in SW6
18:40 , Arthur FerridgeLegia Warsaw’s support do not have a wonderful reputation in world football. They are known for being some of the continent’s most rowdy ultras.
And that is saying a lot. They laid waste to Birmingham when facing Aston Villa last year, with UEFA refusing them entry to Villa Park as riots raged outside the ground.
With that in mind, Met Police have arrived with reinforcements, committing to an increased police presence ahead of the tie.
Chelsea give little away
18:37 , Arthur FerridgeThe degree to which Enzo Maresca weakens his squad today remains to be seen.
Chelsea’s official X account generally provides a window into which players are included, but today we get no surprises.
Christopher Nkunku and Benoit Badiashille are both with the team. That news on its own is hardly shocking, but a start for Nkunku would be slightly more of a surprise after his struggles in the first leg.
Team news should be with us soon.
Inside the dressing room. 🧐#CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/rAe5ojCUkN
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 17, 2025
What of the next round?
18:25 , Arthur FerridgeThe winner of this tie will, of course, progress to the semi final.
There, they will face either Rapid Wien, who currently sit fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga, or Stockholm-based Djurgården, who sit 12th in the Allsvenskan after three matches.
You may recall Djurgården beat Legia 3-1 at home in the league phase.
Chelsea's route
18:15 , Arthur FerridgeThroughout the season, Chelsea have approached this tournament with utter nonchalance.
They faced one qualification round, beating Swiss side Servette 3-2 over two legs, before winning all six of their league ties.
Those wins included an 8-0 thrashing of Armenian champions Noah, a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers, and a 4-1 win over Panathanaikos.
Oh, and the small matter of an away day in Kazakhstan, where Chelsea flew eight hours to play in -15*c conditions, coming away with a 1-3 win.
An uncontroversial 3-0 aggregate win over Copenhagen in the round of 16 brings us to the present day.
Legia Warsaw's route
18:10 , Arthur FerridgeLegia Warsaw’s Conference League campaign has been anything but straightforward.
They had to play three qualification rounds just to reach the league phase, beating Welsh side Caernarfon Town, Norway’s Brondby, and Kosovan contenders KF Drita.
They won four of their six league matches, losing only to Lugano and Swedish side Djurgården, before facing Molde in the round of 16.
They fell to a 2-3 loss in the first leg, but came back in the second with a raucous home crowd behind them.
And here we are!
What does tonight mean for the Blues?
18:05 , Arthur FerridgeThe Conference League is Chelsea’s last hope for silverware this campaign, and, as they falter in the league, it could mean a whole lot more.
Champions League qualification has been considered the bare minimum for Enzo Maresca this season. If he misses out, will the Conference League trophy suffice?
Malik Ouzia asked the question, and answered with a resounding no.
Prediction: A chance for Chelsea to get back to form
17:55 , Arthur FerridgeIn as much as Maresca may have wanted more goals in Warsaw, the first leg was effectively a walk in the park for the Blues.
Tonight, with a home crowd backing them and the absence of jetlag, there is a perfect opportunity to return to form after the weekend’s bruising draw at home to Ipswich, even with a half-strength sqaud.
Chelsea win: 4-0
Legia Warsaw team news: One notable absence
17:50 , Arthur FerridgeLegia top scorer Marc Gual is a doubt because of a hamstring injury and his likely absence places the onus on Luquinhas and Ryoya Morishita in attack.
Gual missed the first leg.
Chelsea team news: Starts for academy starlets expected
17:45 , Arthur FerridgeGiven Chelsea are 3-0 up, it is unlikely Maresca will name a full strength lineup. As such, the likes of Reece James, Cole Palmer, and Nicolas Jackson may not feature.
Josh Acheampong, though, is expected to return to the lineup after impressing Enzo Maresca last time out, and Tyrique George should also feature after scoring his maiden senior goal in the first leg.
Maresca could hand opportunities January signing Mathis Amougou, who came off the bench in the first leg and could make his full debut tonight, and striker Shim Mheuka, who has featured increasingly regularly in Europe this season.
How to watch?
17:40 , Arthur FerridgeTonight’s match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 4 and streamed live on the Discovery+ app from 7pm.
Of course, you can follow all the action right here with the Standard’s blog, complete with expert analysis from Malik Ouzia live and direct from Stamford Bridge.
When is kick off?
17:35 , Arthur FerridgeTonight’s action is due to get underway at 8pm at Stamford Bridge.
Team news is expected roughly an hour before kick-off.
Good evening
17:30 , Arthur FerridgeHello and welcome to The Standard’s live coverage of Chelsea vs Legia Warsaw in the Conference League.
The Blues are up 3-0 on aggregate as they look to confirm their progression to the next stage of the competition.
Follow along here for team news and updates from the ground.
