The UEFA Conference League is at its penultimate round of the league phase. After 56 fascinating matches over the last two months, the final two rounds of play occur this week and next. At this point, six teams are unbeaten, while five are in search of their first victories.
Things will become much clearer after matchday 5 which sides will be moving on, as places in the top eight could also be decided. Ahead of Thursday’s matches, here is a preview for each game.
Very Early Kickoffs: Chelsea Looking to Stay Perfect
There are two games on Thursday in the Conference League that will not kick off at 18:45 or 21:00. The earliest one comes from Iceland, as Víkingur Reykjavík (7 points, 14th place) hosts Djugården (7, 12th). The 14:00 kickoff features a pair of sides who are virtually in the knockout rounds, though another point will secure it. The Swedish side fell to Fram 4-1 on aggregate in the 1990/91 UEFA Cup Winners Cup, losing 3-0 in Iceland. For Víkingur, who has won both home games in the league phase, they were beaten 6-5 by Malmö over two legs in Champions League qualifying last term.
The other early kickoff takes place in Kazakhstan at 16:30, as Astana (4, 23rd) battles Chelsea (12, 1st). The Blues have already secured a place in the knockout rounds, with another win guaranteeing them direct entry to the last 16. As for Astana, who stunned Manchester United in the Europa League at home five years ago, another win should be enough to send them into the knockout round playoffs. They are unbeaten across their five home games in Europe this season (4-1-0).
Early Kickoffs: København Against Scottish Opponent Once Again
One of the early kickoffs see İstanbul Başakşehir (2, 33rd) welcome Heidenheim (9, 9th). The pressure is certainly on the Turks, who will most likely be eliminated if they fail to win. For the Bundesliga outfit, enjoying their maiden European campaign, they are still chasing a top eight finish. Victory in Türkiye will put them in a very good spot to do exactly that. Başakşehir is 1-2-3 against German sides, losing each of their last two. They are also one of five teams still winless at this point.
The bottom two sides in the Conference League – Dinamo Minsk (0, 35th) and Larne (0, 36th) square off in an all-or-nothing bout. It could not be any more clearer for both: win, or go home. A draw eliminates the pair. In what is their 11th-ever European away game, Larne will be on the search for their third win. Both of their previous successes were by 1-0 scorelines, against Bala Town and Ballkani.
FC København (5, 19th) hosts Hearts (6, 17th) in what is a second different Scottish opponent for the Danes this term. In the playoff round, København eliminated Kilmarnock 3-1 on aggregate. That took their overall record to 3-2-2 against teams from Scotland. For Hearts, they have never faced a Danish side before. They have twice won an away game at this stage of the competition: beating Dinamo Minsk on matchday 1, as well a RFS two years ago. Victory for either team will extend their continental journey by two matches.
For the second season in a row, Fiorentina (9, 6th) will face an Austrian side. This time, it is LASK (2, 32nd) making the trip to Florence. La Viola knocked off Rapid Wien in the playoff round last season 2-1 on aggregate. They are unbeaten at home versus teams from Austria (3-1-0). This will be the second time LASK meets a Serie A club, nearly 40 years on from the last occasion. That came in the UEFA Cup against Inter, who defeated them 4-1 on aggregate. The club from Linz did win the home leg though, so there could be hope for them on Thursday.
HJK Helsinki (3, 31st) takes on Molde (3, 27th) in what should be a fascinating Nordic clash. The pair met in Champions League qualifying 18 months ago, with the home side winning each leg. However, it was Molde who came out on top 2-1 overall. The Norwegians also defeated KuPS 5-0 in the UCL qualifiers back in 2020/21. With this being their third appearance in the Conference League proper, HJK is looking to successfully negotiate this stage of the competition for the first time.
Legia Warszawa (12, 2nd) plays their final home game of the league phase against Lugano (9, 8th), a side they have met in Europe before. The previous meetings came in the 1971/72 UEFA Cup, where Legia came out on top 3-1 on aggregate. Across six ties with Swiss teams, they are 2-2-2. In what is just their fourth group phase appearance, Lugano has won exactly one away game on each occasion. They already defeated Mladá Boleslav on matchday 2, but can they do it against the side currently perfect?
FC Noah (4, 26th) looks to remain unbeaten in continental home games as APOEL (7, 13th) makes the trip to Armenia. They have conceded just once in seven home ties in Europe, but have kept clean sheets in both of their league phase matches. After pulling off a huge away win at Molde, the Cypriot champions are a point away from knockout round football. That was their first continental win on their travels since the summer of 2023, when they beat Vojvodina in qualifying.
Olimpija Ljubljana (9, 7th) gets set to take on Cercle Brugge (7, 11th). The Slovenian club, playing in the Conference League proper for the second year running, have won their last three in this league phase. In fact, they have been victorious in each of their five home games in Europe this term, keeping clean sheets in all of them. Cercle kept their first-ever away clean sheet on matchday 3 at LASK, and doing so again on Thursday will put them through. Across nine road matches all-time, the Belgians are 2-2-5.
The pressure mounts on Petrocub (1, 34th), as they meet Real Betis (4, 22nd). The Moldovan champions are without a win in seven continental matches, losing five in a row before earning a last-gasp draw at Başakşehir last time out. Curiously, all four of their home wins in Europe have come by a 1-0 scoreline. Betis topped Zimbru Chisinau in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup 4-1 on aggregate. They are, however, still in search of a maiden victory on the road in the UECL proper.
Late Kickoffs: Conference League Ever-Presents Close to Another Knockout Round
Gent (6, 18th), the competition’s only ever-present team, faces TSC Bačka Topola (4, 21st). De Buffalo’s are nearing a fourth knockout round showing, with a point making that official. It is the second time they will face a Serbian side this term, having taken out Partizan in the playoff round with two 1-0 wins. TSC will be facing Belgian opposition for the first time in Europe. Victory in East Flanders would put them on the precipice of moving on.
Mladá Boleslav (3, 30th) hosts Jagiellonia Białystok (10, 3rd) as the Czech side is in need of points. After three successive wins, the Polish champions dropped points for the first time on matchday 4. Victory in Czechia will likely secure them a top eight spot. Mladá stunned Real Betis two weeks ago, and another win would give them a fighting chance at getting past this stage. They are 2-2-1 in home games this term, the only loss coming on matchday 2 to Lugano.
There is still work to be done for Omonoia Nicosia (3, 28th), who battles Rapid Wien (10, 4th). In what is a repeat clash of their 1998/99 UEFA Cup meeting – which Rapid won on away goals – the Cypriots need a win to stand a chance at going through. They have lost four of their last five continental games, failing to score in those defeats. For the Austrians, they have impressed on their travels this season, winning four of five, including their other two league phase away games.
Also in Cyprus, Paphos (6, 16h) takes on Celje (4, 20th) in what is a pivotal game for both clubs. Getting to seven points is the aim for the pair, as that is expected to be enough for a knockout round spot. In what is their maiden continental showing, Paphos has won four of six home games, while maintaining clean sheets in those four victories. Another success will send them through. Celje has lost their last five away matches since beating Flora Tallinn 5-0 back in July.
Our choice for tie of the round comes from Ireland, as Shamrock Rovers (8, 10th) hosts Borac Banja Luka (7, 15th). Much is up for grabs, not just from a league phase perspective, but also regarding the UEFA coefficient. Rovers has managed to win both of their league phase home matches thus far. Should they go perfect at Tallaght Stadium, a top eight spot could be achievable. For Borac, they earned their second-ever away win back on matchday 2 at APOEL.
Sankt Gallen (4, 25th) is the second Swiss club to face Vitória Guimarães (10, 5th) this term. The Portuguese club already knocked off FC Zürich in the third qualifying round. Sankt Gallen has conceded the most goals in the Conference League thus far with 13. Yet, they are still in the hunt for a knockout round place. Victory for Vitória should be enough to see them through to the round of 16. They are already assured of a first-ever knockout round spot after four rounds of play.
Finally, The New Saints (3, 29th) gets set to host Panathinaikos (4, 24th) in a huge game for both. Neither are safely in the top 24 yet, though a victory would be a massive boost. The Welsh champions have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four continental home games. They will have it quite tough against the former European Cup finalists, who finally picked up a win last time out. The Greeks also came out on top in their Cup Winners Cup tie against Swansea in the 1989/90 season 6-5 on aggregate.