The fifth round of the Conference League promises high-stakes action, particularly for teams fighting to stay at the top. Chelsea, led by Enzo Maresca, has won all four of its matches so far and now faces Astana in one of the longest and trickiest away trips in the competition. A win would keep the Blues at the summit and virtually secure their place in the Round of 16.
Unlike the Champions League, the Conference League’s group stage features only six games, meaning decisive outcomes are just 180 minutes away. One of Chelsea’s fiercest challengers is Legia Warsaw, the only team in Europe yet to concede a goal after Inter’s recent setback against Leverkusen. The Polish side also boasts a perfect record but faces a dangerous test against Lugano, which sits just three points behind and won’t be giving anything away easily.
Palladino's Fiorentina is eager to keep pace with the leaders. A home win at the Stadio Franchi against LASK could solidify their position and potentially allow them to bypass the playoff round—a crucial advantage in a demanding season.
Conference League: Fiorentina aims to bounce back in Europe
27 Nov - 12:45 •
1' min
Several teams sitting on 10 points will also be on the road: Jagiellonia faces Mlada Boleslav, Rapid Vienna travels to Omonia, and Viktoria Plzen takes on St. Gallen. Meanwhile, Olimpia Ljubljana faces Cercle Brugge in what could be considered a direct showdown, with only two points separating the two teams (9 and 7).
Heidenheim’s clash with Basaksehir appears easier on paper, with the German side hoping to break into the top eight. Shamrock Rovers and Borac (8 and 7 points) meet in a crucial head-to-head where the Irish team holds a slight edge.
On the verge of elimination are Real Betis and Panathinaikos. The Spanish side, with just four points, plays away against Moldova’s Petro Club, who has only managed one point so far. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos travels to face Welsh side The New Saints in a potentially decisive game, with only one point separating the two sides in the standings.
The round’s fixture list concludes with several key matches: Gent vs. Backa Topola, Pafos vs. Celje, and an all-Nordic clash between HJK and Molde. Other games include Noah vs. Apoel, Dinamo Minsk vs. Larne, Copenhagen vs. Hearts, and Vikingur vs. Djurgarden, played in Iceland with both teams level at seven points.
It promises to be an intense and decisive matchday, with early confirmations likely for teams advancing to the next round and others facing potential elimination.
