Chelsea's potential opponents in the 2024/25 Conference League

Things would have been different for Chelsea in 2024/25 had it not been for Manchester United's FA Cup final triumph last season.

The Blues had finished sixth in the Premier League and qualified for the Europa League after a late surge up the table but United's FA Cup glory relegated the west Londoners to the Conference League instead. In Enzo Maresca's first season in charge, it may come as an unwanted distraction for debutants Chelsea.

The Blues qualified for the expanded and new-look league phase of Europe's third most prestigious continental competition with an ugly victory over Swiss side Servette, booking their place in the draw.

Here is who Chelsea could come up against in the 2024/25 Conference League.

What 2024/25 Conference League pot are Chelsea in?

Chelsea have, unsurprisingly, been drawn in Pot 1. The pots are decided by UEFA coefficient rankings and the Blues are undoubtedly one of the biggest fishes in this competition.

Unlike the expanded Champions League format, there will still be just six matches played by each team in the Conference League during the league phase. Each side will play a club from each of the six pots, with three matches at home and three away.

Chelsea can qualify for the last 16 automatically if they finish as one of the eight best sides in the league phase, but they will face a play-off to reach the knockout rounds should they only manage to place between ninth and 24th. Teams that finish 25th or lower are eliminated.

Chelsea's 2024/25 potential Conference League opponents

Pot 1

• Copenhagen (DEN)
• Gent (BEL)
• Fiorentina (ITA)
• LASK (AUT)
• Real Betis (ESP)

Pot 2

• Basaksehir (TUR)
• Molde (NOR)
• Legia Warszawa (POL)
• Heidenheim (GER)
• Djurgarden (SWE)
• APOEL (CYP)

Pot 3

• SK Rapid (AUT)
• Omonoia (CYP)
• Helsinki (FIN)
• Vitiria SC (POR)
• Astana (KAZ)
• Olimpija (SVN)

Pot 4

• Cercle Brugge (BEL)
• Shamrock Rovers (IRL)
• The New Saints (WAL)
• Lugano (SUI)
• Hearts (SCO)
• Mlada Boleslav (CZE)

Pot 5

• Petrocub (MDA)
• St. Gallen (SUI)
• Panathinaikos (GRE)
• TSC (SRB)
• Borac (BIH)
• Jagiellonia (POL)

Pot 6

• Celje (SVN)
• Larne (NIR)
• Dinamo-Minsk (BLR)
• Pafos (CYP)
• Víkingur (ISL)
• Noah (ARM)

Chelsea's toughest potential league phase for 2024/25 Conference League

Chelsea will be favourites for the 2024/25 Conference League but they could be joined by some impressive opposition. That includes Fiorentina, who have reached the final of the competition in the last two seasons.

Basaksehir and Heidenheim will both back themselves to cause problems for a Blues side not at their historic best, as will Austrian side Rapid.

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