Chelsea are 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League winners and will want to add another trophy to the cabinet as they face the play-in winners Los Angeles FC in their opener.
Chelsea team news: Santos could make debut
On the back of a brilliant loan season at Strasbourg, Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos could make his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt here. Another potential debutant is new signing Liam Delap, although it would be a surprise if the striker was to feature from the start. Defender Wes Fofana will miss the competition through injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
LAFC team news: Giroud could start against former club
There is plenty of big-name French representation among the LAFC squad in the form of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and striker Olivier Giroud. The latter isn’t certain to start though, with plenty of competition in attack. One player certain to be in the line-up, is the dangerous Denis Bouanga.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Lloris; Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead; Tillman, Jesus, Delgado; Martinez, Giroud, Bouanga.
Key stats
- Champions of England on six occasions, Chelsea have won nine European trophies, including the UEFA Champions League twice. Their most recent success in 2021 earned them a place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
- In Chelsea’s successful UEFA Champions League campaign in 2020/21 they boasted an impressive defensive record of only four goals conceded in 13 matches.
- Chelsea’s most recent European honour was achieved in May 2025 when they came from behind to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final. In doing so they became the first team to win all five of UEFA’s major club football trophies; Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup and the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.
- Chelsea defeated Mexican team Club America 3-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in a pre-season friendly on 31 July 2024.
- Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández was in the Argentina side that defeated a France team containing Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud (now at LAFC) 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.
- LAFC were the last team to book their ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, earning the 32nd spot courtesy of a dramatic extra-time goal from Denis Bouanga in a thrilling comeback victory against Club América in the Play-In match on 31 May 2025.
- MLS Cup champions in 2022 and Supporters’ Shield winners on two occasions, the Black and Gold have been runners-up in the Concacaf Champions League/Cup twice; in 2020 they lost out 2-1 in a one-off match against Tigres and in 2023 they were defeated 3-1 on aggregate by Club León.
- Among LAFC squad members are two winners of the FIFA Club World Cup™, with Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud both having won the global showpiece with France in 2018, the former lifting the trophy as captain.
- LAFC striker Olivier Giroud played for Chelsea from January 2018 to June 2021, scoring 39 goals in 119 appearances. He was the competition top scorer in the club’s 2018/19 UEFA Europa League triumph, with 11 goals, the last of those coming in the final, a 4-1 win against his former club Arsenal, where he played from 2012-18. He was an unused substitute when Chelsea won the 2021 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City.
- LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had 12 seasons at Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham, where he was the club captain from 2015-23. Lloris was in goal when Tottenham lost the 2014/15 English League Cup final 2-0 to Chelsea.
- LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo played for the USA against England at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the teams drawing 1-1 in their opening group game in Rustenburg.
- LAFC have 17 different nationalities within their roster of 31 players – more than any other team.
