The UEFA Conference League returns with matchday 4 action on Thursday. It marks the second half of this season’s league phase, where the 36 sides have much less wiggle room if they hope to get past this stage of the competition.
Ahead of the 18 games taking place, here is The Deck’s preview of the football.
UEFA Conference League: Matchday 4
Celje, Mainz Put Perfect Start on the Line
Needing to bounce back once more, AZ Alkmaar (3 points, 27th place) meets Shelbourne (1, 30th). Few would have expected the Eredivisie team, playing in their fourth UECL group phase, to be where they are at this stage. Yet, they are in a situation similar to their last appearance in 2023/24. For the Shels, their maiden European group phase has not been ideal, with just one point and no goals. They will look to change that in what is their maiden clash with a Dutch team.
Ħamrun Spartans (0, 35th) plays host to Lincoln Red Imps (4, 22nd) in what is a key match for both teams. Any hopes of progression hinges on this match for Ħamrun, who has yet to pick up a point. They face the team who knocked them out of the Champions League first qualifying round last season. For Lincoln, it has already been a historic season for them as they picked up their first points in a group phase. However, the champions of Gibraltar will be looking for more, having won in Malta last year.
After a poor start to the league phase, Lech Poznań (3, 23rd) will have to step it up at home to Lausanne-Sport (7, 5th). Having conceded in each of their last seven European matches, Lech suffered two straight reverses to find themselves in a tough spot. As for Lausanne-Sport, they were beaten by Legia Warszawa in the 1981/82 Cup Winners Cup. With that said, the Swiss club has been off to a solid start, as they are unbeaten after three matches (2-1-0).
Needing a win to give themselves a shot at progressing, Omonoia Nicosia (2, 29th) faces Dynamo Kyiv (3, 24th). The Cypriot side has drawn their last two by 1-1 scorelines. They have yet to beat a Ukrainian team, falling in the playoff round of the Europa League to Metalist Kharkiv 15 years ago. Dynamo, meanwhile, posted a huge win on matchday 3, putting them in a decent spot. Victory in Cyprus, something they failed to do versus AEK Larnaca, could be key for them.
Raków Częstochowa (5, 12th) plays host to Rapid Wien (0, 36th). Partaking in their maiden UECL group phase, Raków has drawn their last two. Victory at home will all but secure them a place in the next round. They will have to weary though, as Rapid badly needs points. Bottom of the league phase after three rounds, the Austrian side has conceded eight times. Only Aberdeen with nine has let in more goals. Quarterfinalists last term, the capital club will need to pick up the pace quickly.
It will be quite the challenge for Sigma Olomouc (4, 19th), who welcomes Celje (9, 2nd) in their match. This will be a first crack at Slovenian opposition for the Czech Cup holders. They are without victory in their last six European games though, stretching back to 2018/19. Celje continues to fly high, winning all three of their opening matches. They beat another Czech club, Baník Ostrava, en route to making this season’s Conference League proper.
Slovan Bratislava (0, 34th) has it all to do when they face Rayo Vallecano (7, 6th). The Slovak regulars are off to their worst-ever start in the UECL, failing to pick up a point. Their only win against Spanish opposition came in the 1968/69 Cup Winners Cup final against Barcelona. This is just the second time Rayo is participating in Europe, having made the UEFA Cup quarterfinals in 2000/01. They have yet to lose in the Conference League this term.
CS Universitatea Craiova (4, 20th) will aim to make it two wins from two as they battle Mainz (9, 3rd). CSU Craviova holds a 2-2-6 record versus Bundesliga teams, though RB Leipzig knocked them out of Europa League qualifying seven years ago. Mainz, maintaining a perfect record three games in, is 3-4-3 on the road in Europe. Their success in Nicosia on matchday 1 was their fifth clean sheet as well. They did, however, lose on penalties to Gaz Metan Mediaș back in UEL Q2 14 years ago.
Rounding out the early kickoffs sees Zrinjski (3, 26th) meet BK Häcken (2, 28th). After a huge win on opening night, the club from Mostar has failed to get things going. They were beaten by Malmö in UEL Q3 back in 2018/19, although they won the home leg. Häcken has yet to taste success in the UECL proper his term after two draws. Having reached the UEL proper two falls ago, the Swedes are still without a win in a group phase.
Strasbourg Battles Palace in Late Kickoffs
After earning their first point three weeks ago, Aberdeen (1, 33rd) will hope for more this time around as they welcome Noah (4, 17th). The Dons have scored twice in both of their home matches this term, but failed to win either of them. They are facing an Armenian team for the first time. For Noah, they narrowly missed out on knockout round football last fall. With four points, the club based in Abovyan would be on the cusp of getting past this stage should they win.
Breiðablik (1, 32nd) meets Samsunspor (9, 1st) in their match. The Icelandic champions have never won a group phase match in the Conference League in nine previous attempts. They will have to do so at least twice over the next four weeks if they are to stand a shot at moving on. As for Samsunspor, they are already well on their way to playing continental football next calendar year. With three wins from three, the Turkish side can even dream of a top eight finish, especially if they win on Thursday night.
An all-Balkan battle occurs in Kosovo, where Drita (5, 13th) faces Shkëndija (4, 21st). A win for either side will put them in a commanding spot to advance from this stage. Drita, four-time champion of their domestic league, is unbeaten in their last five European matches, scoring in all of them. Shkëndija will fancy their chances here, having nearly claimed another win last time out. It will be a first crack at a Kosovar opponent for the North Macedonian winners.
Fiorentina (6, 8th) will be looking to bounce back from last round’s defeat as they welcome AEK Athens (4, 15th). The teams played to a 1-1 draw 18 years ago in the UEFA Cup, the same season La Viola reached the semifinals. This is the third different Greek team Fiorentina will face in the UECL, having lost the 2023/24 final to Olympiakos. AEK has not had the best of success versus Italian teams, going 2-8-9. Moreover, they have not played knockout round football in Europe in eight years.
Looking to match last season’s performance, Jagiellonia Białystok (5, 14th) returns home to battle KuPS Kuopio (5, 11th). The Polish club is one of 11 sides without defeat in this season’s Conference League proper, maintaining that fact with a late goal last round. For KuPS, they enjoyed their first-ever group stage/league phase victory on matchday 3, and will be out for more success knowing a second win should be enough to have them in the knockout round draw.
The tie of the round this matchday is an all ‘Big Five’ clash between Strasbourg (7, 7th) and Crystal Palace (6, 9th). It has been a positive return to Europe for Strasbourg so far, as the Ligue 1 side remains undefeated, qualifiers included. Their best run in Europe came in 1979/80, when they reached the European Cup quarterfinals. Palace bounced back from their shocking matchday 2 defeat last round, and will want to climb back into the top eight. They have won both of their road matches thus far.
Another one of the round’s top games will see Legia Warszawa (3, 25th) meet Sparta Praha (4, 16th). Legia has never lost to a Czech club in Europe before, winning and drawing twice each. They could really use a victory at home this time around, having lost on matchday 1. Sparta has also failed to live up to expectations in the UECL thus far, with their only win coming in the opening round. They have failed to score in their last two matches, putting them in a bit of a pickle.
Rijeka (4, 18th) is up against AEK Larnaca (7, 4th) in their match. The Croatian champions failed to follow up from their impressive matchday 2 result three weeks ago, and could use another win to bolster their hopes of knockout football – something they have never achieved before. For AEK, they could not have asked for a better start. A win in Croatia will ensure them progression to the knockout stages for the second time, and first via the UECL group phase.
We end in Ireland, where Shamrock Rovers (1, 31st) faces Shakhtar Donetsk (6, 10th). The Hoops have not lived up to last campaign’s performance, where they reached the knockout round playoffs. Instead, they head into this match in desperate need of three points to keep hopes of a top 24 finish alive. In comparison, Shakhtar is just outside of the top eight places on goal difference. This will be the Pitmen’s first match against a side from Ireland.