Europa League and Conference League Draws: Italian Teams Face Challenging Matches

On August 29, after the Champions League draw, the footballing world turned its attention to Monte Carlo, where the draws for the league phase of both the Europa League and Conference League were held. These competitions, regarded as the second and third tiers of European club football, showcase the efforts of clubs eager to make their mark on the continent. Similar to the Champions League, both the Europa League and the Conference League consist of a single group of 36 teams each. Italian representation in these tournaments includes Roma and Bologna in the Europa League, while Fiorentina stands as Italy's lone representative in the Conference League after securing a playoff victory over Ukraine's Polissya. Notably, the draw rules dictate that teams from the same country are not allowed to face off in the initial stages. In the Europa League, each of the 36 teams will engage in eight matches, with four played at home and four away, facing two from each pot. Prior to the draws, the teams were stratified into four pots based on their European performance over the past five years. Despite being placed in pot one, Roma encountered a challenging draw. Their matches are expected to be particularly tough, especially the home game against Lille and the away fixtures against Celtic, Nice, and Panathinaikos. Bologna, categorized in pot four, will experience its own set of challenges, facing off against teams like Salzburg, Aston Villa, and Celtic. The matchups for Roma in the Europa League include: - Lille (Home) - Rangers (Away) - Viktoria Plzen (Home) - Celtic (Away) - Midtjylland (Home) - Nice (Away) - Stuttgart (Home) - Panathinaikos (Away) Bologna's Europa League schedule features: - Salzburg (Home) - Aston Villa (Away) - Celtic (Home) - Maccabi Tel Aviv (Away, not in Israel) - Freiburg (Home) - Steaua Bucharest (Away) - Brann (Home) - Celta Vigo (Away) On the other hand, Fiorentina's draw in the Conference League appears more favorable. With the teams allotted into six pots, each will compete in six matches, facing off against one team from each pot. Fiorentina's fixtures will include: - Rapid Vienna (Away) - Dynamo Kyiv (Home) - Mainz (Away) - AEK Athens (Home) - Sigma Olomouc (Home) - Lausanne (Away) The Europa League's league phase is set to kick off on September 24 and 25, continuing through to the last matchday on January 29, 2026, while the Conference League begins its campaign on October 2 and concludes on December 18. The precise dates and times for each match will be disclosed on August 31. Following the single group phase, the top eight teams from each competition will qualify directly for the Round of 16, while those ranked ninth to twenty-fourth will enter playoffs for another chance at advancement. Unfortunately, the last twelve teams will face elimination from the tournament. Winning the Europa League and Conference League holds significant prestige and tangible benefits. A title in the former guarantees automatic qualification for the next season's Champions League and a coveted spot in the UEFA Super Cup, where champions from both the Champions League and the Europa League compete against each other. Conversely, clinching the Conference League ensures direct entry into the next season's Europa League. As the European football scene awaits, all eyes will be on how Roma, Bologna, and Fiorentina navigate their respective group stages with aspirations of glory and furthering their status in European competition. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2