Fernandez earns Chelsea slender first-leg lead
Conference League favourite Chelsea has the advantage after the first leg of their last-16 tie against Copenhagen, earning a narrow 2-1 win at Parken.
Though Gabriel Pereira set up a nervy finish for the Blues, second-half strikes from Reece James and Enzo Fernandez were enough to earn the win.
Copenhagen made a bright start, with Robert Sanchez denying Elias Achouri in the opening four minutes, but the game slowed after that, with Chelsea failing to register a shot on target in the first half.
However, a lightning-quick start to the second saw them take control of the game as James met Marc Cucurella's cutback to drive a long-range strike into the back of the net just 56 seconds after the restart.
Viktor Claesson's angled strike bounced off the inside of the post moments later, before Chelsea doubled their lead, Tyrique George setting up substitute Fernandez to guide a finish in.
Chelsea was caught out by a free-kick in the 79th minute as Pereira rose to direct Marcos Lopez's cross past Sanchez, but Copenhagen could not find a late equaliser.
