The UEFA Conference League might not get attention or fans’ appeal like the Champions League, and to an extent, the Europa League, but the third tier of European clubs’ competition houses decent teams who are not unfamiliar to the top two tiers in recent history.
Matchday four of the league phase of the UEFA Conference League has some fixtures to keep an eye on with the likes of Mainz, Samsunspor, and Celje looking to maintain their winning run, while tournament favorites Shakhtar Donestk, Fiorentina, and Crystal Palace are hoping to further move up the league table.
1. Strasbourg vs Crystal Palace
Strasbourg welcome Crystal Palace to Stade de la Meinau, seeking to rebound from a recent 1-0 Ligue 1 defeat to Lens. The French Ligue side have had a decent start to the campaign with two wins and a draw, while Crystal Palace fell to their defeat in the competition at home to AEK Athens on matchday two. However, Oliver Glasner’s men have since moved on from the loss as they are currently unbeaten in five matches. The match-up is that of Strasbourg’s solid defense vs Palace’s attacking prowess.
2. Fiorentina vs AEK Athens
This fixture sees two teams with contrasting form in their domestic leagues and in Europe. While Fiorentina have been poor in recent games in the Serie A, they have been in decent form in the Conference League. AEK Athens have been poor away from home in European competitions in their last four matches, but are doing quite well in the Greek Super League. Fiorentina, playing at home at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, are the favorites to nick a win.
3. Shamrock Rovers vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Shamrock Rovers welcomes Shakhtar Donetsk to Tallaght Stadium in a ‘David vs Goliath” fight on Thursday night, with the host losing five of their last eight matches. Shakhtar Donestk, with Champions League experience, are in top form, winning five of six outings and scoring 23 goals. It’s hard not to see the Ukrainian side pick maximum points in this match, but you know, football can be very unpredictable.
4. Omonoia vs Dynamo Kyiv
This is the kind of fixture bettors bet “anybody to win” because there is no overwhelming favorite. Even though the Omonia are underdogs, the hosts can be a difficult “nut” to crack open. However, Dynamo Kyiv’s recent form does not inspire enough confidence that the Ukrainians can seal a win away from home.
5. Legia Warszawa vs Sparta Praha
Legia Warszawa hosts Sparta Praha at Stadion Wojska Polskiego in an Eastern European showdown on Thursday night. Both teams have endured a topsy-turvy run form in the competition so far, with one win each after three matches respectively. It’s also a fixture where there is no favorite, so it won’t be surprising if it ends in a draw.
AFCON 2025
