The UEFA Conference League moves forward with second qualifying round matches across the next two weeks. Twenty-five teams got past the first qualifying round, with 14 teams dropping from the UEFA Champions League, to this competition. Two of those UCL dropouts – HJK Helsinki and Larne – received byes to the third qualifying round due to rebalancing of the access list.
As the round is about to get underway, here is a look at all 48 ties to happen, as well as predictions as to who will progress.
Conference League Q2, Champions Path: Disappointed Dozen Looking to Stay Alive
This is the first round of the Conference League where domestic champions are involved. These include 12 of the 14 losing teams from the Champions League first qualifying round. As previously mentioned, HJK and Larne are the lucky losers who get to avoid this round.
Perhaps the most intriguing tie in this section of qualifying would be between Víkingur Reykjavik and Egnatia. The Icelandic side narrowly lost out to Shamrock Rovers in their UCL Q1 tie, while Egnatia fell on penalties to Borac Banja Luka. Both teams would be their countries’ second ever participant in the main rounds of a European club competition, should they make this fall’s league phase.
Beyond that, Differdange and Ordabasy face off, with neither side able to find the net in their other European fixtures earlier this month. In contrast, Ballkani’s clash with Ħamrun Spartans is the only one in this round to feature two teams who won a game in their Champions League elimination. The side from Kosovo has reached the group stages of the Conference League from this round in each of the last two seasons.
Struga meets Pyunik, with the latter being one of three teams in this round – alongside Ballkani and Flora Tallinn – to have made the main rounds of this competition. Struga is looking to follow the footsteps of Vardar in playing European football in the fall. Speaking of Flora, they have San Marino’s Virtus, who conceded 11 goals in their elimination to FCSB. The Estonian will look to put an end to a seven-game losing skid in Europe.
The other match in the Champions Path sees Dinamo Batumi meet Dečić. The Montenegrin outfit could not get past The New Saints in UCL Q1, and will have to come up clutch to save Montenegro’s coefficient. Dinamo is looking to match their run to the third qualifying round of the Conference League, which they did back in 2021/22.
Predicted teams to progress: Ordabasy, Víkingur Reykjavik, Flora Talinn, Pyunik, Dinamo Batumi, Ballkani
Main Path Part 1: Former Group Stage Teams In Action
We will split the Main Path of the Conference League second qualifying round into three sections. Before going into the matches, it should be noted that Puskás Akadémia was due to face Dnipro-1 in this round. However, the Ukrainian side has forfeited both matches, sending what was supposed to be their Hungarian opponents through. That leaves us with one less game in this round.
Looking at the matches that will actually take place, Brann will have a second shot at Dutch opposition. After losing to AZ in the playoff round last summer, it is Go Ahead Eagles to meet the Norwegians here. The Dutch European play-in tournament winners from May have never progressed from a European tie before. Valur Reykjavik, fresh off a convincing second leg win over Vllaznia last round, meets St. Mirren. In what is the Scottish side’s fifth season in European football, only once have they failed to get beyond the first hurdle.
Omonoia Nicosia faces off with Torpedo Kutaisi, conquerer of KF Tirana last time out. The Cypriot regulars lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the third round of Conference League qualifying this summer, and will want to get back to main round football for the fall. As for our choice for tie of the round, that comes in the tie between Sumqayit and Fehérvár. Both teams should feel as if they have a shot at progression here. Fehérvár’s last group stage showing came in 2018/19, while Sumqayit is looking for their maiden goal in European club competition.
After making the Conference League proper last term, Breiðablik’s second tie this summer sees them face Drita. This will not be a straightforward tie for the Icelandic side, as Drita has always been a tricky customer in Europe. An upset could really be on the cards here. Meanwhile, a wonderful opportunity is available for Cliftonville and Auda, who square off. Only once has the Northern Irish outfit has moved past Q2 in Europe, and they surely could not have asked for a better chance than against the Latvians, who are playing their third European tie ever.
Osijek takes on FCI Levadia Tallinn in their Q2 tie. The Croats have made the third qualifying round of the Conference League in two of the competition’s first three seasons. They will surely be favourites to make it there again, despite facing a strong-looking Levadia team currently leading the Estonian Meistriliiga. Zirə of Azerbaijan faces off against Slovak opposition in DAC Dunajská Streda in what is another direct clash between teams from countries involved in the battle for 22nd spot. Playing in their fourth Conference League, DAC lost the first tie in two of their previous showings, including last summer.
Olimpija Ljubljana, one of the other teams to make the group stage last fall, will take on Zhytomyr. Both of Olimpija’s appearances in UECL qualifying saw them lose their second tie of the season. This is their first tie of the term against European debutants in Zhytomyr. Whether they can make another run to the UECL proper is another matter. Another side to make their group stage bow last fall, Zrinjski, will face off versus another debutant in Bravo. The Slovenians got past Connah’s Quay in the first round, and will fancy their chances at knocking off another seeded team this summer.
To one of the most lopsided ties of the round, AEK Athens meets up with Inter Club d’Escaldes. After finishing bottom of their Europa League section, the Greek side will look to do some damage in the UECL this time. They will have to be weary though: Inter stunned Hibernian at home last summer at this stage. Underestimating them would not be wise. As for Noah, they take on Maltese Cup winners Silema Wanderers. It has been 22 years since Silema has last progressed from a continental clash, In comparison, Noah has won three of their five clashes in Europe all-time.
Zimbru Chișinău’s continental journey will get underway versus Ararat-Armenia. A decade on from their playoff round showing in the Europa League, the Moldovan side should stand a chance against their Armenian opponent. CFR Cluj, meanwhile, has to atone for their disastrous summer a year ago. That will come against Neman Grodno, the cup winners from Belarus who had their best ever run in Europe last summer. One of the most contrasting ties from that perspective. A lot of expectations will be on the Romanians, who will hope to avoid embarrassment.
Predictions: Brann, Valur Reykjavik, Omonoia Nicosia, Fehérvár, Drita, Auda, Osijek, DAC Dunajská Streda, Olimpija Ljubljana, Bravo, AEK Athens, Noah, Zimbru Chișinău, CFR Cluj
Main Path Part 2: European Regulars Look to Avoid Shock
We commence the second part with an intriguing tie between KuPS and Tromsø. It is the Norwegian’s first European tie in a decade, where they lost in this round of the Europa League to Víkingur Gøta. KuPS reached Q3 or better of the Conference League in each of the first two seasons of the competitions, before falling in this round last summer to Derry City. Speaking of Víkingur Gøta, their next tie will be against one of the tournament’s mainstays in Gent. The Belgian side has made the knockout rounds of the UECL in all three previous seasons, and will expect to have another long run this term.
Milsami Orhei takes on FC Astana, the latter making the Conference League proper last year. In contrast, it has been nine years since Milsami has gotten past Q2 in continental play. They should be smelling blood against a weaker Astana team who has not been doing well domestically. We are in for a fascinating tie between FK Sarajevo and Spartak Trnava, especially after the Slovak side made the group stage of this competition last September. The Bosnian giants won a Conference League tie for the first time last round, and will hope to prevail in back-to-back two-legged continental ties in the same season for the first time in a decade.
Ilves faces off with Austria Wien in their Q2 tie. The Finnish club has won just one of their six ties in Europe over two legs. They will be up against it, as they face an Austria Wien club who fell in a dramatic Q3 tie last summer against Legia Warszawa. There may be hope for FAK’s opponents, as the Austrians lost at this stage to Breiðablik three years ago. After a disastrous summer a year ago, Djurgården meets Progrès Niederkorn. This is a tie that the Swedes will have to be careful, as their Luxembourgish opponents have experience in pulling off early round upsets in Europe – just ask Rangers.
CSKA 1948 Sofia kicks off their second continental campaign against Budućnost. The Bulgarians lost both legs of their continental tie against FCSB a year ago, and will look to do better this time around. Montenegro’s most successful club has only made Q3 twice all-time, and will look to make it back there again. Žalgiris Vilnius faces off with Paphos in their game, the Lithuanians aiming for a second Conference League main round showing. The Cypriot cup winners lost out to Elfsborg in the Europa League last round.
Another really intriguing clash comes between Maribor and CS Universitatea Craiova. The Slovenians have been on the decline for a bit now, losing to Botev Plovdiv in the last round. As for CSU, they did make the playoff round of this competition in their last appearance two years ago, making them a potentially dangerous side here. Hajduk Split faces off with HB Tórshavn in their tie. The Faroese side is unbeaten in their last four home games in Europe, making them a potentially tricky customer for Hajduk, who played in Q3 a year ago.
St. Patrick’s faces off with Vaduz, who is no stranger to continental football. The record winners of the FL1 Active Cup is Liechtenstein’s sole representative in Europe. Pulling off some incredible results two years ago, it will just be a matter of trying to get past this round for Vaduz. Maccabi Haifa, who reached the round of 16 earlier this calendar year, faces Sabah Baku in their tie. The Azeris came within a whisker of sending Partizan Belgrade out of Europe last summer, so the Israeli team better watch out.
Maybe the most lopsided tie of the round comes between Magpies and FC København. Having reached the last 16 of the Champions League last term, the Danes will be expecting to make the league phase and beyond this term. FCK has also faced a team from Gibraltar in the UECL before, getting the better of Lincoln Red Imps in the inaugural edition. Baník Ostrava has Urartu to contend with in their tie. It has been 13 years since Baník’s last continental run, where they made Q3 of the Europa League. They will expect to come out on top against an Urartu who won a European tie for just the second time in Q1.
Predictions: KuPS, Gent, Milsami Orhei, Spartak Trnava, Austria Wien, Djurgården, CSKA 1948 Sofia, Žalgiris Vilnius, CS Universitatea Craiova, Hajduk Split, Vaduz, Maccabi Haifa, FC København, and Baník Ostrava
Main Path Part 3: Regulars With a Point to Prove
Istanbul Başakşehir takes on La Fiorita in what is probably the most lopsided tie of this round. The Turks reached the round of 16 of this competition last calendar year, and will be backed to go quite far this time around. La Fiorita progressed from a two-legged tie for the first time earlier this month. Iberia 1999 – formerly known as Saburtalo Tbilisi – faces Partizani Tirana in their Q2 matchup. This is the Georgian side’s fourth first in continental football, reaching Q3 of the UEL five years ago. They will have to dig in deep against one of Albania’s biggest clubs.
Legia Warszawa will be in action versus Wales’ Caernarfon Town, who knocked off Crusaders in Q1. The Poles got to the knockout round playoffs of the Conference League earlier this year, and will look to at least match that performance this term. Elsewhere Brøndby faces off against Llapi. The Danes are back in Europe after missing out last term. Their only previous UECL experience came in a defeat to Basel two years ago.
F91 Dudelange will meet Häcken in their Q2 tie. The Luxembourgers reached back-to-back Europa League group stages just five years ago, and will have an uphill climb to reach that stage of the Conference League this term. Stjarnan and Paide meet in what is a phenomenal opportunity for both sides to move past Q2 for just the second time in their respective histories. Paide made Q3 just two years ago before losing to Anderlecht, while the Icelandic side did so a decade ago in the Europa League.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva starts their European season with a tie against Cherno More. The Israelis failed to get past the qualifying rounds last summer, and will hope to avoid the same fate this time around. Twice have the Bulgarians gone further than this round in Europe, despite this being just their fourth continental showing. Mladá Boleslav has Lithuanian cup winners TransINVEST in their tie. The Czech side is back in Europe after five seasons away. They are looking for a third main round appearance, but will have to get past debutants first.
Riga FC, who has become a regular in qualifying, takes on Śląsk Wrocław. The Latvians have gotten to Q3 or the playoff round in each of the last five seasons, and will not be an easy opponent for Śląsk, who used to regularly make the Europa League playoff rounds in the previous decade. Sankt Gallen faces Tobol Kostanay, with the Kazakh side having reason to feel confident. It was at this stage of the competition a year ago where they stunned FC Basel, causing one of the biggest upsets of the 2023/24 qualifiers. They will be out to repeat that magic here.
Floriana faces Vitória Guimarães as the Portuguese side will look to avoid a repeat of last summer’s humiliation at the hands of Celje. Their Maltese opponents will be up against it though, as their Q1 win over Tre Penne was the first time they prevailed over two legs in Europe. FC Zürich has Shelbourne for their opening tie. Two years removed from a Europa League group stage appearance, the Swiss side will need strong performances this summer to get back to main round play.
Radnički 1923 takes on Mornar Bar in their tie. A pair of European debutants do battle here, with the Montenegrin outfit already pulling off a scalp against Dinamo Tbilisi in Q1. Repeating such a feat this round would be nothing short of incredible. Finally, Paks and AEK Larnaca face off in what should be an in intriguing encounter. The Cypriot club made the last 16 of the competition two years ago, but could not even make the group stage last summer. That will be the goal for them this time around.
Predictions: Istanbul Başakşehir, Partizani Tirana, Legia Warszawa, Brøndby, Häcken, Stjarnan, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Mladá Boleslav, Riga FC, Sankt Gallen, Vitória Guimarães, FC Zürich, Radnički 1923, and AEK Larnaca.