The Independent
·20 febbraio 2025
Who Chelsea could face in Conference League last-16
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Yahoo sportsThe Independent
·20 febbraio 2025
Chelsea are waiting to learn their potential route to the Europa Conference League final at the end of the season, with the draw for the next rounds of the competition taking place on 21 February.
What started off as a brilliant campaign for the Blues has quickly tailed off into a mixed run of form that has seen them drop out of both domestic cup competitions as well as the Premier League top four.
Nevertheless, their form in Europe has been imperious, with Enzo Maresca’s side winning all six of their league phase games and scoring 26 goals in the process.
Victory in this competition is now Chelsea’s last chance at a trophy this season, and it is one that they will certainly try to take advantage of, with a place in next season’s Europa League up for grabs alongside the chance to be the first side to win all three of Uefa’s main competitions.
Chelsea finished first in the league phase and therefore were given first seed for the knockout rounds.
They were paired with second-placed Vitoria SC, and these two sides will then face one of winners of the ties between the 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th-placed sides.
Those ties are Gent vs Real Betis, with the Spaniards 3-0 up after the first leg, and FC Copenhagen vs FC Heidenheim, with the tie finely balance after the Bundesliga side grabbed a 2-1 lead after the first leg.
The second legs of the Conference League play-off ties takes place on Thursday, 20 February.
The draw for the round of 16 then takes place on February 21 at 1pm GMT.
The Conference League round of 16 takes place across 6 and 13 March. As the seeded team, Chelsea will be at home in the second leg in principle.
Gent or Real Betis - to play Chelsea or Vitoria SC in last 16
TSC Backa Topola vs Jagellonia - to play Legia Warsaw or Cercle Brugge in last 16
Celje vs Apoel - to play Djurgardens or Lugano in last 16
Víkingur vs Panathinaikos - to play Fiorentina or Rapid Wien in last 16
FC Copenhagen vs FC Heidenheim - to play Chelsea or Vitoria SC in last 16
Molde vs Shamrock Rovers - to play Legia Warsaw or Cercle Brugge in last 16
Omonoia vs Pafos - to play Djurgardens or Lugano in last 16
Borac vs Olimpija - to play Fiorentina or Rapid Wien in last 16