By Eden Roitfarb and Yossi Medina
The Europa Conference League group stage is now reaching its final stages - here’s the highlights from matchday four.
Alkmaar on the brink of elimination
In a battle of two tournament heavyweights, Aston Villa faced AZ Alkmaar in a crucial Group E matchup.
This game was made even more decisive after Legia Warsaw beat Zrijnski in the early slot.
AZ, last year’s semi-finalists, went ahead as Vangelos Pavlidis slotted past Emiliano Martinez after 52 minutes, looking to avenge their 4-1 hammering by Villa the last time the teams met.
However, you simply can’t count out an Unai Emery team in Europe, as Diego Carlos showed, netting his first goal for the club only nine minutes later.
A great moment for the Brazilian, who has recently suffered from a bit of bad injury luck.
Ten minutes from time, Ollie Watkins received a great ball from Douglas Luiz to complete the comeback and secure the win for Villa.
With only three points from four games, AZ are in a desperate situation, and would need to win both their remaining games to have any hope of qualification - and even that might not be enough.
G⚽️⚽️D MORNING. pic.twitter.com/smfO01DSLL
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 10, 2023
Viktoria Plzen at the top of the group
After no Czech team were able to reach the knockout stage last season, Viktoria Plzen has become the first to book their place in the round of 16 this year.
A goalless draw in the early match between FC Astana and Ballkani gave them a chance to do it.
Tomas Chory, who scored the winning goal last time they played Dinamo Zagreb, has done it again in front of his home crowd.
With another 1-0 win, Viktoria Plzen have clinched first place in Group C.
Viktoria Plzeň = only team to have a perfect record in the competition 💯
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) November 10, 2023
📸: @fcviktorkaplzen || #UECL pic.twitter.com/UDqNCzoWw8
Frankfurt and PAOK make it through
Another group picture that is now almost complete is Group G.
Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK confirmed their spot in the top two, and their last game will decide who will finish first.
Eintracht didn’t have any problems doing so, after winning 1-0 against HJK away.
PAOK didn’t have an easy job against Aberdeen in Greece, but their 2-2 draw was enough to secure their place in the next stage.
🥰 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔!
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@Eintracht) November 10, 2023
–––– #SGE | #HJKSGE 0:1 pic.twitter.com/oyiCpISBXL
Maccabi Tel Aviv secure an emotional win
After a month without football due to the tragic circumstances in Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv travelled to Poland to play Zorya in the derby of the teams that can’t host at their home countries.
Prior to the game, a minute's silence was held for the victims of the October 7th attack in Israel - an improvised seven seconds were marked by both teams just after kick-off too.
On the pitch, it didn’t seem for a moment that Robbie Keane’s boys hadn’t played for so long, as they easily took the lead - it was 3-0 before the first-half had ended - courtesy of two goals from Dor Peretz, who headed both from close range, and an outrageous backheel from Dutch defender Derrick Luckassen.
Zorya also provided sparks of attack, but were denied by a good performance from goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, who was making his debut between the sticks.
A consolation goal from Danylo Alefirenko made it 3-1.
Fenerbahce’s dream streak comes to an end
Turkish giants Fenerbahce opened their season by amassing an incredible 19 straight wins, including nine victories in the Conference League.
At the weekend, Trabzonspor spoiled the party in the league, and today Ludogorets did the same in Europe.
In the 18th minute, Jakub Piotrowski scored a wonderful goal from distance.
The visitors went into an all-out attack in the final minutes, leaving their defense exposed, as Rwan Cruz finished off a 92nd minute counter-attack to seal the deal.
It was 2-0 to the Bulgarians, as Group H now turns into a three horse race, along with FC Nordsjælland.
💪 Full time. Victory for Ludogorets with 2:0#ludogorets #fenerbahce #uecl pic.twitter.com/BRzXx7UV0x
— PFC Ludogorets 1945 (@Ludogorets1945) November 9, 2023
All equal in Hungary
Ferencvaros and Genk are making the race for qualification in Group F as tight as possible.
Two weeks ago in Belgium, they saw out a 0-0 draw.
Ferencvaros scored first tonight, just after half-time, but Genk equalized in the 62nd minute.
Except for Cukaricki, who have lost all their matches so far, all the other games in the three-way race between Fiorentina, Ferencvaros and Genk have ended in draws.
Whoever can grab a win first wil put themselves in pole position for the next stage of the competition.
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.
The Conference League round of 16 has been concluded, with a shocking exit for Maccabi Tel Aviv, a respectful performance by Maccabi Haifa and a series of massive results elsewhere on the continent.
For the first time since Oct. 7, 2023, Palestinian club football returns this weekend as 226 teams compete across three war-scarred regions.
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.
A Hitchcock-style AFCON final in Rabat saw chaos, controversy and brilliance as Senegal stunned Morocco to claim their second African title.
From libraries to stadiums, Morocco lives football. As AFCON 2025 nears its climax, passion, politics, and ambition collide nationwide.
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.