The first leg of the Conference League quarter-finals saw dominant performances from four teams, with three matches ending in a decisive 3-0 scoreline and another finishing 2-0. Rayo Vallecano, Shakhtar Donetsk, Mainz, and Crystal Palace have made significant strides towards the semi-finals. However, they cannot afford to relax as all four will be playing away in their upcoming second-leg fixtures.
April 16th could potentially be remembered as a night of dramatic comebacks, but it hinges on the efforts of AZ Alkmaar, AEK Athens, Fiorentina, and Strasbourg. These teams face substantial deficits to overcome if they harbour aspirations of reaching the semi-finals later this month. Here are the UEFA Europa Conference League results from April 9th:
- Rayo Vallecano 3-0 AEK Athens
- Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 AZ Alkmaar
- Mainz 2-0 Strasbourg
- Crystal Palace 3-0 Fiorentina
The upcoming Conference League matches scheduled for Thursday, April 16th, are:
- AZ Alkmaar vs. Shakhtar Donetsk – 18:45 CEST / 17:45 BST
- Strasbourg vs. Mainz – 21:00 CEST / 20:00 BST
- Fiorentina vs. Crystal Palace – 21:00 CEST / 20:00 BST
- AEK Athens vs. Rayo Vallecano – 21:00 CEST / 20:00 BST
The winners of the Shakhtar-Alkmaar tie will face either Fiorentina or Crystal Palace in the semi-finals. In the other half of the bracket, the victor between Rayo Vallecano and AEK Athens will meet either Mainz or Strasbourg. The semi-final matches are scheduled for April 30th and May 7th, with the final set to take place on May 27th. Who do you believe will lift the Conference League trophy this season?