Chelsea have the advantage in their Conference League last-16 tie with Copenhagen after winning the first leg 2-1. Reece James and Enzo Fernandez were both on target across 19 second half minutes with Gabriel Pereira pulling one back in the final quarter.
Enzo Maresca made a number of interesting team selections for the clash with Benoit Badiashile back in the starting XI, Trevoh Chalobah and Malo Gusto as the full-backs and Reece James in midfield. Marc Cucurella also came on at left-back when Gusto was unable to continue, with the decision to keep James where he was being proven correct.
The change in shape and personnel saw Palmer again struggle to make an impact in the final third, but he did not shy away from his defensive duties. He was also brought off with just under 20 minutes to play which will certainly allow him time to recover and get back to his best before Sunday's Premier League clash against Leicester City.
With that being said, football.london has taken a look at the latest Chelsea news and headlines following their European win.
What Palmer did
Though he did not pick up a goal contribution, Palmer was still involved in an iconic moment during the clash. As he celebrated Fernandez's strike, a pint of beer was thrown onto the pitch with the Chelsea star opting to pick it up and pose alongside Trevoh Chalobah.
football.london says: Regardless of his form, it is good to see that Palmer is enjoying his football as Chelsea look for a third consecutive win.
Maresca has spoken about his talisman on a number of occasions and he seems to have the full backing of the Blues boss that he will start finding the back of the net again, but it was a little harder to do that in his side's Conference League last-16 first leg.
The 22-year-old was required a bit deeper on Thursday evening but his magic in the final third will be needed this weekend if Chelsea are to break down Leicester's low block. Palmer was very unfortunate to not score or pick up an assist against Southampton and so he will be out to avenge that against another newly-promoted side.
James decision pays off
In the defeat to Aston Villa, James was alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield with Maresca repeating that decision against Copenhagen and his stance on doing it more often was made perfectly clear after the game.
"So, you can ask Reece; when I signed with Chelsea, probably the day after, I sent him a video about seeing him as a midfielder," he admitted in a press conference. "I see Reece as a midfielder, not now - since day one, before I met him for the first time, he was on holiday. I sent him a clip about him playing as a midfielder.
"I mentioned Reece playing as a midfielder a long time ago. He is playing there now but the good thing is he played this year already as a full-back, as a centre-back and in the central midfielder. The main target for us is to help him be fit all season."
football.london says: Chelsea's lack of depth in midfield has been brutally exposed, but Maresca certainly thinks James could be the answer to those problems.
Given the fact it is better for his body to not bomb up and down the touchline as a full-back, deploying him in a position where there is likely to do far less running seems smart. His goal and overall performance on Thursday is further proof he can have a long and hopefully injury-free career in midfield.
With Gusto confirmed as available for the weekend, there is no rush to move James back to his previously favoured position or again name him in the starting XI as both Caicedo and Fernandez played 45 minutes which makes it likely the duo are the midfield pair this Sunday.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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