By Eden Roitfarb and Yossi Medina
The Europa Conference League group stage has come to an end, and 16 teams will soon know their path to the glorious final in Athens.
Here are the best moments from matchday six.
Who has made it to the round of 16?
Fiorentina completed the group stage with a direct ticket to the round of 16, in their final match away to Ferencvaros.
Kristoffer Zachariassen scored first for the Hungarians in the 48th minute, before Luca Ranieri equalized the score in the 73rd minute.
The Italian side missed out on first place in the group stage last year, but still managed to make it all the way to the final in Prague.
Would skipping the play-off stage help them take one further step forward and win the title?
Luca Ranieri = Fiorentina's top scorer in the competition this season 👊#UECL pic.twitter.com/DBXzXT8asB
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) December 14, 2023
Legia Warsaw maintain Polish success
AZ Alkmaar had been one of the more impressive teams last season, as they reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual winners West Ham.
Meanwhile Poland saw a great run from Lech Poznan, who reached the quarter-finals.
AZ had some problems during the group stage this time around, and had to beat Legia in Warsaw to qualify for the next round.
It was a one-man show from Legia’s captain Josue, who assisted twice, to Yuri Ribeiro in the 34th minute and to Blaz Kramer in the 81st minute.
Legia won 2-0 and they will play in a European knockout stage match for the first time since 2017.
AZ are now eliminated.
It's celebration time for Legia 🎉
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) December 14, 2023
They secure a spot in the knockout round play-offs 💪#UECL pic.twitter.com/3q60LGsbgM
Zahavi and Maccabi Tel Aviv top Group B
The TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia, hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europe once again due to the ongoing situation in Israel, as they welcomed Gent in a match for first place in the group.
And just as advertised, the game was filled with goals, chances and attacking football.
Eran Zahavi scored twice for Maccabi, cementing his position as the joint top scorer of the group stage, alongside today’s opponent Gift Orban, and Benjamin Nygren from Nordsjaelland.
Gabi Kanichowsky added one of his own, and there was a consolation goal from Julien de Sart.
3-1 to Maccabi, who go straight to the round of 16 with 15 points, but they could also feel a strong desire to celebrate this achievement with their supporters in Bloomfield Stadium.
עשינו היסטוריה!
— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) December 14, 2023
נתראה בשמינית גמר הקונפרנס ליג😎 pic.twitter.com/rE54s9VvTf
The rollercoaster of Group H
In the last matchday, it seemed that nothing could prevent Nordsjaelland from qualifying for the next stage.
After thrashing Fenerbahce 6-1 last time out, all they had to do was at least draw against Ludogorets.
But it was nothing like the previous meeting between the teams, when Nordsjaelland won 7-1.
It took 79 minutes until Jakub Piotrowski scored for Ludogorets.
Meanwhile, in the other match of the group, Fenerbahce won 4-0 against Spartak Trnava.
The amazing final round dropped the Danes down the third place, knocking them out of the tournament.
Fenerbahce jumped up from third to the top spot in the group, and Ludogorets also qualify in second.
🇹🇷 Fenerbahçe have won 11 of their last 12 European home games, drawing the other 👊@Fenerbahce || #UECL pic.twitter.com/1iYHFwqtoT
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) December 15, 2023
Dinamo Zagreb overcome robust Ballkani
The Croatian giants are having a tough season.
Things aren’t as straightforward as usual in the league, and their Champions League dreams were cut short in the summer.
A fire sale of their best players and a Europa League qualifier defeat meant they found themselves in unfamiliar territory - the Conference League.
Today, after an unpredictable group stage, which included three losses, they won their final crucial game against Ballkani from Kosovo to finish second - not with flying colours, but just good enough.
Ballkani didn’t make life easy, as we have gotten used to from them over the past two campaigns.
It was 0-0 at half time, making the hosts nervous.
Two second half goals from the great Bruno Petkovic, however, and an additional one from Dino Peric, made it 3-0 to Zagreb, who can breathe a sigh of relief before the winter break.
We will see them in February for the play-off round.
2023/24 #UECL Group Stage is complete ✅
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) December 14, 2023
Most exciting team here is? pic.twitter.com/MqcS8hlUTy
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.
Ivory Coast edged Nigeria 3-2 in the final of a solidarity tournament among eight African teams, organised by Sudanese refugees in Tel Aviv.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva fans were barred from AZ Alkmaar. Why does the country with deep Jewish football roots now refuse to host Israeli supporters?
Cairo’s derby drew a record number of crowd for the first time in years, as Al Ahly and Zamalek fans united in October War banners and Israel chants.
Manchester City’s guilty verdict is spilling into geopolitics, as Abu Dhabi hints at curbing UAE investment in Britain over the club’s fate.
Israel's national team finished bottom of its Nations League group, as politically charged clashes versus Ireland overshadowed the campaign.
Israel opens a homeless Nations League campaign against Austria, Kosovo, and Ireland, with the Gaza conflict looming over every match played.
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.
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.
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.