Chelsea have one foot in the Europa Conference League final after a comfortable 1-4 away victory in Stockholm against Djurgarden in the first leg of their semi-final.
Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke both found the back of the net in the first half to settle the nerves for the Blues against their Swedish opponents.
Substitute Nicolas Jackson then bagged a second-half brace, before 18-year-old Isak Alemayehu scored a consolation goal for the hosts with the first goal of his senior career.
With a top-five Premier League place their main target this season, Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca made eight changes to Chelsea’s starting line-up before Sunday’s crucial Premier League meeting with newly crowned champions, Liverpool.
However that did not hinder them from having a dominant performance, that gives them the advantage ahead of the return leg at Stanford Bridge.
If they win the Conference League, Chelsea will become the first club to complete the full set of European trophies, having won the Champions League and Europa League twice.
A spectacular tifo display from Djurgarden supporters had welcomed Chelsea into the 3Arena, but the visitors drew first blood through Sancho after just 12 minutes.
The artificial pitch, which had been a worry for Maresca before kick-off, did not seem to halt the blues’ groove at all as they dominated both possession and chances throughout.
They were 2-0 up when Fernandez put Madueke through two minutes before the break and he beat goalkeeper Jacob Rinne at the near post with a sharp finish.
At halftime, Maresca made four changes, bringing on Cole Palmer and Jackson and the latter capitalised on a horrible defensive mix-up between Danielson and keeper Rinne to make it 3-0 just before the hour mark.
The Senegal striker then bagged a brace six minutes later as he found the top corner with a fine finish from the edge of the box to assert Chelsea’s control in the tie.
The home supporters had something to celebrate though, by Alemayehu’s downward header in the 68th minute, although it will take something special for Djurgarden to stop Chelsea sealing their place in the Final on 28th May.