The UEFA Conference League quarterfinals are here, with the eight sides left in the competition hoping to become the fifth different champion. March had a dramatic round of 16, where just one tie was settled by more than two goals. It paves the way for what promises to be another thrilling two weeks of play in Europe’s third-tier club competition.
Ahead of the round, The Deck previews each of the four ties, and predicts the sides that will remain standing.
UEFA Conference League: Quarterfinals
Rayo Vallecano vs AEK Athens
Rayo Vallecano and AEK Athens will kick off the quarterfinals with what is a first-time meeting between the two clubs.
Rayo has reached this stage in Europe just as they had in their only other appearance back in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup. On that occasion, they were beaten by fellow Spanish team Deportivo Alavés 4-2 on aggregate. Before their loss at home to Samsunspor last month, Los Franjirrojos had never been beaten at home in European play. This will be their maiden test against a side from Greece, which should prove to be a good enough challenge.
This will be the fourth time AEK Athens participates in a UEFA club competition quarterfinal, with their last one coming in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners Cup. Dikéfalos have now managed to make at least the quarters of all major European tournaments, becoming the first Greek side to do so. They will look to follow the lead of Olympiakos Piraeus, who won the Conference League trophy two years ago. However, they will have to overcome their torrid record against Spanish teams, having won just twice (2-5-11).
Prediction: Rayo Vallecano
AZ Alkmaar vs Shakhtar Donetsk
The only tie in this round not to feature a side from Europe’s ‘Big 5’ leagues, AZ Alkmaar and Shakhtar Donetsk square off for a chance at a rare semifinal.
The Dutch regulars are one of two teams left to have gotten beyond this stage of the UECL before. That occurred in 2022/23, when they lost in the semifinals to eventual winners West Ham. AZ also prevailed in the other previous meeting with Shakhtar, which came in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup round of 16. Both legs went De Kaasboeren‘s way, winning 2-1 at home and 3-1 away. They also happened to make the last four of the tournament that campaign before falling to Sporting CP.
Shakhtar’s last quarterfinal in Europe came in the 2019/20 Europa League, where they managed to advance past this stage. In a single-legged tie, they got the better of Basel 4-1. In what is the Pitmen’s first foray in the UECL, they have come out on top in each of their five away matches. That could prove pivotal here, as they have not won five in a row on their travels in nine years. Their record against Dutch sides is a thing to be concerned about though, as they are 2-1-6.
Prediction: AZ Alkmaar
Mainz vs Strasbourg
Our choice for tie of the round sees Mainz face Strasbourg in what looks to be a promising encounter between two clubs who are just a couple of hours away from each other.
Die Nullfünfer are enjoying their best run in a UEFA club competition ever, beating their round of 16 appearance in the UEFA Cup two decades ago. That tie in the 2005/06 edition against eventual winners Sevilla saw Mainz lose at home for the first and only time. Heading into the tie with a perfect record at the MEWA Arena this term, they could prove to be a tricky customer. Both of their other games against Ligue 1 opposition ended even, having drawn against Saint-Étienne in the 2016/17 Europa League group stage.
Strasbourg remains the only team left in the UECL not to have lost in their run so far. That included a five-game winning streak, which was ended in their last match back in March. Perhaps a worrying stat for Le Racing is the fact that they have never progressed from a two-legged tie versus a German team before. Duisburg knocked them out of the UEFA Cup in 1978/79 with a 4-0 aggregate win, while Eintracht Frankfurt prevailed 3-1 at their expense in the UEL playoff round six years ago.
Prediction: Strasbourg
Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina
We end with another first-time meeting in European play as Crystal Palace’s debut campaign continues with a tie against Fiorentina.
Palace has kept up the streak of there being an English team in each of the Conference League quarterfinals five years in. The Eagles have not had it all easy though, losing twice on their way here. In fact, they have managed to win only half of their home matches (3-2-1). Now taking on an Italian team for the first time, Palace will face one of their sternest tests yet. The only other two-legged tie between English and Italian teams in the UECL went the Serie A’s way back in the first edition, something they will want to reverse this time around.
While Fiorentina has failed to win any of their last four against Premier League sides in Europe, they still have a rather strong record (6-3-4). However, they did lose the final to West Ham three years ago in their only UECL match against an English opponent. La Viola have reached this stage in each of the last three seasons, successfully negotiating the tie on all three occasions. They have never lost the away leg of a Conference League quarterfinal, going 2-1-0.
Prediction: Fiorentina
