Europa Conference League draw LIVE: Chelsea get DREAM path to the final as they avoid big hitters – updates

Making history

As well as silverware, there are two big incentives for Chelsea to win this year’s Conference League.

If they do so, they will become the first side to triumph in all three of Uefa’s main competitions.

While winning it will also guarantee a place in next season’s Europa League – should their form in the Premier League drop away.

Chelsea’s route to the final

Enzo Maresca’s Blues are the big favourites to lift the Conference League after blitzing their way through the group stages.

Following today’s draw, here’s their route to the final on May 28.

• Round of 16: Copenhagen
• Quarter-final: Molde or Legia Warsaw
• Semi-final: Pafos, Djurgarden, Borac or SK Rapid
• Final: Real Betis, Vitoria SC, Jagielloina, Cercle Brugge, Celje, Lugano, Panathinaikos or Fiorentina

Dates for the diary

With the final draw of the season now complete, we now know the route to the final in Warsaw in May.

Here’s the schedule for the Conference League over the next 99 days:

• Round of 16: 6 & 13 March
• Quarter-finals: 10 & 17 April
• Semi-finals: 1 & 8 May
• Final: 28 May

Uefa make ‘exception’ for Chelsea and Spurs

Uefa rules usually prevent two clubs in the same city, or within a 50km radius, hosting European matches on the same day.

But the organisation have reportedly relaxed rules ahead of Chelsea and Spurs now both being in action on March 13.

Chelsea will host Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham welcome AZ Alkmaar to North London in the Europa League.

Keep Palm and carry on

Chelsea won all of their group stage games on their way to the Conference League knockouts.

Cole Palmer wasn’t registered by the club in the early stages of the competition, with the club preferring to keep the England star fit for domestic action.

But Chelsea have now activated Palmer for the remainder of the tournament.

Trevoh Chalobah and Mathis Amougou will also be available to Enzo Maresca against Copenhagen.

Conference League draw in full

If you’re just joining us after your lunch break, here’s a reminder of how the Conference League draw played out.

• Jagiellonia Bialystok vs Cercle Brugge
• Molde vs Legia Warsaw
• Celje vs Lugano
• Pafos vs Djurgarden
• Panathinaikos vs Fiorentina
• Borac vs Rapid Vienna
• Real Betis vs Vitoria
• Copenhagen vs Chelsea

Maresca rallying cry

Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca maintains that the Blues are targeting a top-four spot this season.

And he’s called on Chelsea fans to stop looking backwards and instead embrace the run-in.

Maresca said: “The only thing I can say is that every time the fans have been behind us, we really appreciate because we are sure that with the fans behind we can achieve soon our target.

“We mention many times that when you can hear the fans pushing in behind [you], it is a nice feeling.”

Chelsea vs Copenhagen head-to-head

The Blues are no strangers to the Danish club, with the last meeting coming in 2011.

On that occasion, Copenhagen frustrated Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.

In the reverse fixture, a Nicolas Anelka brace gave Chelsea all three points in the Danish capital.

• Chelsea 1-1 Copenhagen – 22 October 1998, Cup Winners Cup
• Copenhagen 0-1 Chelsea – 5 November 1998, Cup Winners Cup
• Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea – 22 February 2011, Champions League
• Chelsea 0-0 Copenhagen – 16 March 2011, Champions League