Who'll Make it to the Europa Conference League Last 16?
by Steve Ashfield | by Steve Ashfield
The Battle to Reach the Last 16
We're down to the last 24 clubs in the Europa Conference League. The eight winners of the Europa Conference League groups are already through to the last 16. The clubs waiting to see who will join them are: Istanbul Basaksehir, West Ham United, Villarreal, Nice, AZ, Djurgardens, Sivasspor and Slovan Bratislava.
This Knockout Play-off Round sees the eight sides that came second in their group joined by the eight that finished third in their Europa League groups. They are the teams that are at home in the first leg of this round.
Only Turkey is so far guaranteed to have two teams in the last 16. Belgium and Italy both have two clubs remaining in the competition but how many will they have in the last 16?
Here's the draw for the Knockout Play-Off Round.
- Qarabag v Gent
- Trabzonspor v Basel
- Lazio v CFR Cluj
- Bodo/Glimt v Lech Poznan
- Braga v Fiorentina
- AEK Larnaca v Dnipro-1
- Sheriff Tiraspol v Partizan
- Ludogorets Razgrad v Anderlecht
Lazio Out to Reach the Last 16
Lazio are in the Europa Conference League for the first time. They began the season in the Europa League and finished third in a crazy group where all four teams ended on eight points. The Italian club earned seven of their points at home and struggled on the road. They only scored one goal and that was in the 5-1 loss at Midtjylland.
They are in contention for a Champions League spot next season but their current fom is not good with only two points from the last three league games. Can CFR Cluj take advantage of this slip in form? They are in a similar situation having lost three of their last five league games in Romania. Cluj also struggled on the road in their Europa Conference League group and we feel it'll be Lazio who progress.
More Success for Belgium?
Belgium may have had a nightmare World Cup but their club sides are enjoying a good season in European competitions. They have clubs through to the knockout stages of all three competitions, including Club Brugge in the Champions League. In this competition, they have Gent and Anderlecht attempting to reach the last 16.
Gent squeezed past Molde to finish second in their Europa Conference League group. They're bidding to reach the last 16 for the second successive season and are currently fifth in the Jupiler League. Their form is a worry though and look a side to place a both teams to score bet on. They'll hope for more goals from Lauren Depoitre (pictured above). Gent take on Qarabag who are unbeaten in the Azerbaijan Premier League this season. In Europe they do tend to struggle away from home and if Gent can do well in the first leg, they could well reach the last 16.
Anderlecht are tenth in the Jupiler League but in good form of late. They face Ludogorets Razgrad who don't fare too well on the road. The Belgians also have a chance to progress to the next round.
Braga Hoping to Continue Good Home Form
Braga are in good form at present as long as they don't play Sporting Lisbon. They have only lost twice in their last 15 games, both being 5-0 away defeats to Sporting. No sign of them in the Europa Conference League and Braga take on Fiorentina in this Europa Conference League tie. They are the only Portuguese club left in this competition. Their season began in the Europa League and although earning ten points, ended up third in their group. Teenager Ricardo Horta will be a player Fiorentina have to cope with.
Fiorentina came second in their group, seven places clear of third and with 14 goals scored. Here's another side in poor form though and struggling in the bottom half of Serie A and Braga look the likely qualifiers here,
In the other ties in the Europa Conference League Knockout Play-offs, Trabzonspor bid to become the third Turkish side in the last 16. They finished third in their Europa League group behind Ferencvaros and Monaco. The Turks won all three home games but didn't earn a point on the road. It's a similar story in the Turkish Super Lig with no home losses but six away defeats. They take on Basel who finished second behind Slovan Bratislava in their group. This looks a tight one to predict but the slight preference is for Trabzonspor.
Bodo/Glimt reached the quarter finals last year and should be able to get past Lech Poznan. AEK Larnaca only earned five points in their Europa League group and take on Dnipro-1 from Ukraine. They had two wins over Cypriot club Apollon Limassol in the group stages. Their home games are being played in Slovakia but they have a good chance of reaching the last 16. Partizan hope to reach the last 16 for the second season in a row and put up a good fight in their group. They can edge their way past Sheriff Tiraspol who had a tough Europa League group with Real Sociedad and Manchester United and aren't playing well away from home at present.
