ECL: Thursday has been Chelsea's party time and playground week after week

But could they do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke? Who cares, as long as Chelsea are so dominant in the UEFA Europa Conference League as they were on Thursday night in Stockholm, brushing aside Djurgarden 4-1 in the first leg of their semi-final battle.

Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke netted in the first half to put away all the pressure, and substitute Nicolas Jackson added a second-half brace to clear the air for good as the Blues already set one foot in the Wroclaw showpiece on May 28.

Enzo Maresca made as many as eight changes to Chelsea's starting XI before Sunday's crucial Premier League clash against newly crowned champions Liverpool, which could push the Stamford Bridge outfit straight to the Champions League.

Still, it was just enough for a comfortable away win in Europe's third-best competition, and the return leg next Thursday in London should be a genuine dead rubber. Despite his earlier concerns, Maresca's men had no problems with the artificial pitch, as they dominated both possession and chances. Sancho drew first blood within the opening 12 minutes, and Madueke's goal near the end of the first half was precisely what the visitors needed to put the underdogs to the sword.

The Italian tactician then made four half-time subs, bringing on Cole Palmer and Jackson, whose double killed the tie. The 18-year-old Isak Alemayehu pegged one back for the hosts with the maiden goal of his senior career, but that was all the charming minnows could do on their way out of the outstanding Conference League campaign.

UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE - SEMI-FINALS

First leg

Thursday

Betis - Fiorentina 2-1 (1-0)

/Ezzalzouli 7, Antony 64 - Ranieri 73/

Djurgarden - Chelsea 1-4 (0-2)

/Alemayehu 68 - Sancho 12, Madueke 43, Jackson 59, 65/