Europa Conference League knockout playoffs: Everything you need to know
We're all loving the Europa Conference League, right? After a successful inaugural season, we're approaching crunch time in year two as the playoff round quickly approaches.
Eliminated teams from the Europa League and the eight group runners up have a second chance to qualify for the round of 16 over two legs in the coming weeks.
While the teams competing may not be established European behemoths, you can bet your bottom dollar that drama and tension will consume these ties, making them enthralling watches like any two-legged European affair.
Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Europa Conference League playoffs.
2022/23 Europa Conference League knockout playoffs
Here are the eight Europa Conference League playoff ties. The first legs are scheduled for 16 February and the second legs on 23 February.
- Qarabag vs Gent
- Bodo/Glimt vs Lech Poznan
- Trabzonspor vs Basel
- Braga vs Fiorentina
- Lazio vs CFR Cluj
- AEK Larnaca vs Dnipro
- Sheriff vs Partizan Belgrade
- Ludogorets vs Anderlecht
2022/23 Europa Conference League knockout playoffs rules
The Europa Conference League playoffs involve eight seeded teams (group runners-up) taking on eight unseeded teams (third-place group finishers in the UEL) for a place in the competition's round of 16, where the eight group winners await.
These playoff ties are played over two legs with each team playing home and away. The seeded teams will play the second leg at home.
The winner over two legs will progress. However, if the aggregate score is tied following the conclusion of normal time in the second leg, an extra 30-minute period will ensue. Remember, there are no away goals.
Should the scores remain level after extra time, the winner will be determined via a penalty shootout.
How to watch the 2022/23 Europa Conference League knockout playoffs
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
Australia | Stan Sport |
Canada | DAZN |
UK | BT Sport |
US | Paramount+ |
2022/23 Europa Conference League last 16
Eight teams qualified for the last 16 of the Europa Conference League by winning their groups earlier in the season. They are as follows:
- West Ham
- Nice
- AZ Alkmaar
- Slovan Bratislava
- Villarreal
- Djurgardens IF
- Istanbul Basaksehir
- Sivasspor
The draw for the last 16 will be held on 24 February with the first legs to be played on 9 March and the second on 16 March.
When was the Europa Conference League established?
UEFA have done little to get into the good books of supporters in recent years, but the addition of the Europa Conference League has proven to be a smart initiative.
The competition was introduced with the intention of giving clubs from lower-ranked UEFA countries the chance to compete at the highest level and in some of Europe's grandest amphitheatres. After years of discussion, the Europa Conference League enjoyed its inaugural season in 2021/22 with AS Rome beating Feyenoord in the final.
The establishment of the competition reduced the size of the Europa League from 48 to 32 teams as well as bringing about the playoff round before the knockouts begin. Teams that finish third in their Europa League group will compete against the eight group runners-up in the Conference League to determine who joins the eight group winners in the round of 16.