By Eden Roitfarb and Yossi Medina
As we reach the halfway point of this season’s Europa Conference League group stage, here are the highlights from matchday three.
Aston Villa thrash AZ
Aston Villa v AZ is one match that could easily be repeated in the knockout stages.
In the first match between the two sides in the group, Aston Villa proved they are contenders.
They won 4-1 away, with last year’s semi-finalists unable to deal with the English side.
For Unai Emery and his team, following a bad start to the group stage, it’s another win and a strong performance to go with it.
✅ Goal 🆚 West Ham
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 27, 2023
✅ Goal and Assist 🆚 AZ Alkmaar
Low socks Leon. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/BXlzoU0I1I
Six goals each for the big names
6-0, 6-0. No, it’s not Roland Garros, but rather two statement wins from Eintracht Frankfurt and Fiorentina.
Neither team has started the season well, but both are expected to go far in the tournament.
Vincenzo Italiano’s Italians dominated Cukaricki with a series of ‘golazos’, notably from Jonathan Ikone, Lucas Beltran and Maxime Lopez.
An easy win, and their first after two draws.
Frankfurt meanwhile made light work of HJK Helsinki, making Dino Topmoller’s job seemingly more stable after a series of wins.
Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe scored a brace, his first ever European goals.
And this means that the group is now in clear control of the Germans and PAOK.
🦅 Frankfurt's biggest win in Europe since 1993 ✨@eintracht_eng || #UECL pic.twitter.com/RXGBHBWHKC
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) October 27, 2023
Bodo Glimt back in control
In Matchday 2, Club Brugge became the first team to beat Bodo Glimt in their own stadium in Conference League history.
Today, however, the Norwegian side regained control of their home territory with a highly impressive display against Besiktas.
Albert Gronbaek, Faris Moumbagna and Ulrik Saltnes were all on target to make it 3-0 to Bodo on a cold Norwegian night.
The Turkish side managed to get a goal back via an unusual Brede Moe own goal.
Unlike their counterparts Fenerbahce, Besiktas have failed to impress at the start of the year, and are currently bottom of the group with one point.
Bodo are now in second place with four points.
FØRR EVIG 💛 pic.twitter.com/njfKNpE91M
— FK Bodø/Glimt (@Glimt) October 26, 2023
Shocking win for Klaksvik
The Faroese fairytale keeps going.
After drawing against Lille in the last matchday, Klaksvik put on another great performance as they defeated Olimpija Ljubljana 3-0 at home.
Not only is it the first-ever win for a Faroese club in a European group stage match, but it’s also one of Klaksvik’s biggest wins in European football.
Until this season, Klaksvik had only won three games by a margin of three goals or more, two of them against Tre Fiori of San Marino.
This season, they had already recorded a 3-0 win against Ferencvaros, and have now done it again.
🇫🇴 KÍ Klaksvík made history by becoming the first Faroe Islands club to record a group-stage victory in UEFA competition 👏
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) October 27, 2023
📸: @KI_Klaksvik || #UECL pic.twitter.com/rj9Sl6QHtu
PAOK come back from behind in Scotland
Tonight’s biggest drama came from northern Scotland, where Aberdeen were hoping to achieve their first ever Conference League win, against PAOK Thessaloniki.
The Pittodrie faithful felt like things were going their way en route to a famous European night, as the second half opened with goals from Bojan Miovski and Dante Polvara in the 50th and 58th minute respectively.
But PAOK showed their grit, quality and experience to turn the game around.
Goals from Kiril Despodov and club captain Vierinha made it 2-2 in the 84th minute.
The climax came in the final seconds of the game, as Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic committed a silly foul on the edge of the box to give the Greeks a penalty.
With the final kick of the game, Stefan Schwab slotted home to win the game 3-2, sending the traveling away fans into delirium.
Edited by Alex Smith
Thumbnail photo by Aston Villa FC
Conference League's final draws near, and four teams are poised for Athens on May 29. Olympiacos dazzled Villa Park, while Fiorentina secured a narrow lead.
Aston Villa saw off Lille, while Olympiakos got Fenerbahçe in trouble. Yossi Medina and Eden Roitfarb recapped all the Conference League quarter-final first-leg action.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva drew 0-0 at Dinamo Zagreb to open their Europa League return, ahead of a brutal schedule and no home matches this season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv routed ten-man Hapoel 4-1 at Bloomfield, in a fiery derby marked by red cards and pyro chaos.
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After nine years at Liverpool, Salah left for Trabzonspor — the money, the family, and the love of being the underdog all played their part.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup Final, ending Lionel Messi's dream World Cup with heartbreak.
Thousands of Argentina fans transformed Times Square before the 2026 World Cup final, all united to thank Lionel Messi.
Spain were ruthless in Dallas as Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo starred, leaving France's Bastille Day to end in deep disappointment for Deschamps.
Norway outplayed England for most of a sweltering Miami classic, but two Bellingham strikes in extra time sent the Three Lions to the semis.
Egypt pushed Argentina to the limit in a 3-2 World Cup thriller, but left the pitch furious at the referee and convinced justice was denied.
Ayoub Bouaddi chose Morocco over France at 18 and lit up a quarter-final about colonial history, dual identity, and what it means to belong.
Merino's late goal gave Spain a 1-0 win over Portugal as Ronaldo left the World Cup stage in tears in what many believe was his final match.
Egypt beat Australia on penalties in Dallas to reach the last 16 for the first time, with Salah's Panenka the highlight of a historic night.
Diop headed Morocco level in the 91st minute and Saibari slotted the winner in the shootout as Morocco reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
Messi and the Jordanian Messi both scored as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in Arlington, with records broken and keffiyehs flying in the stands.
France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia, but the two-hour lightning delay stole the show, making it officially the longest World Cup game ever.
Saibari scored inside two minutes as Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 in Boston, leaving the Scots on the very brink of 2026 World Cup elimination.
Senegal relived their legendary 2002 magic for an hour, but Kylian Mbappe struck twice to sink them and seal France's 3-1 win in New Jersey.
Qatar stole a last-gasp draw from Switzerland and Morocco held Brazil 1-1 — two results that announced Arab football’s full arrival at 2026.
Azteca stadium hosts its third World Cup as Mexico City buzzes with pride, protest, and the deep belief that football has always lived here.
Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig to win the Conference League in the most romantic underdog final in European football history.
Maccabi Tel Aviv edge Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2–1 in a dramatic Israeli Cup Final at Teddy Stadium, denying the champions a historic Double.
With tensions easing, Iran’s 2026 World Cup participation remains uncertain, as FIFA, politics, and regional dynamics collide.
CAF shocks African football by stripping Senegal’s title and awarding Morocco the AFCON crown after a chaotic final decision.
From silent protests to daring escapes, Iran’s women footballers turned a tournament into a global story of courage, politics, and survival.
Iran’s women’s team protested, faced threats, and signaled SOS in Australia—now their fate is uncertain amid calls for asylum.
From geopolitics to spectacle, Trump looms over World Cup 2026—reshaping football, power, and culture in the biggest tournament ever.
FIFA joins Gaza rebuilding plans, restoring stadiums, pitches, and youth programs, supporting football and hope in the Strip.
From Nigeria’s Mavlon academy to Viktoria Plzeň and the Europa League dream: Salim Fago’s journey is just beginning in Europe.
From Benzema’s shock move to Ronaldo’s protest, a chain reaction in Saudi football is shaking the entire project and the global game.
Olympiacos 'killed' Aston Villa again, advancing to their first-ever European final, where they'll meet Fiorentina—all the action from the Conference League semi-finals.