The Conference League reaches its halfway point with Matchday 4, kicking off tomorrow, while this afternoon features the early game between Istanbul Başakşehir and Petrocub. Tomorrow, Fiorentina returns to the pitch under coach Palladino following their recent loss to APOEL. The Viola, currently eighth with six points from a possible nine, will host Cyprus' Paphos at the Stadio Franchi. The defeat in Nicosia disrupted an otherwise perfect run for Kean and his teammates, who had won nine of their last ten matches. Fiorentina is eager to secure a victory in Europe and solidify a place among the top eight teams advancing to the “league phase.”
One of those spots already seems reserved for Maresca’s Chelsea. The Blues top the Conference League standings with nine points, 16 goals scored, and just three conceded. Chelsea will face Heidenheim in Germany, one of the other teams with a perfect record, alongside Legia Warsaw, Jagiellonia, Rapid Vienna, and Guimarães.
Legia Warsaw travels to face Omonia, while Rapid Vienna vs. Shamrock Rovers stands out, with the Irish team trailing just behind in the standings with seven points. Another key matchup is Lugano vs. Gent, as both sides sit in playoff contention with six points from their first three games. Teams like Copenhagen, Panathinaikos, and Istanbul Başakşehir are also seeking crucial playoff points, currently sitting outside the top 24 spots.
Conference League: Chelsea faces Astana to stay on top
11 Dec - 17:11 •
2' min
Meanwhile, Betis will take on Czech side Mlada Boleslav. The Spanish club remains on four points and occupies 18th place in the standings. Manuel Pellegrini’s squad, one of the competition’s big names, will need to climb the rankings quickly to stay in contention.
