What is the UEFA Europa Conference League?

Europa Conference League: Introduction

The Europa Conference League is a tournament newly introduced this season designed to increase opportunities to compete in European competitions for weaker leagues according to the UEFA coefficients. Indeed, the top 16 European leagues according to the UEFA coefficients are not allowed to enter any more than two teams into the tournament, while the majority of other European leagues are allowed to enter three.

The tournament’s introduction means that there will be three major European club competitions this season for the first time in 22 years, following the abolition of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999. UEFA had been reportedly considering re-introducing a third competition since 2015 and officially announced plans to do so in 2018 under the provisional title of ‘Europa League 2’. They have confirmed that the competition will run until at least the 2023/24 season.

Europa Conference League: Format

The Europa Conference League will begin with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, who will play each other home and away as per the Champions League and Europa League.

Group winners will automatically progress to the Round of 16, while teams that finish second in their group will have to play a knockout round play-off tie against a team who finishes third in their Europa League group for the chance to do so. From that point, the Round of 16 will progress with two-legged knockout ties, which similarly to both the Champions League and Europa League (as of this season) will not use the away goals rule.

The winners of the tournament are granted an automatic spot in the following season’s Europa League, unless they also qualify for the Champions League.

European competitions 2021/22 format

Tournament	Champions League	Europa League	Europa Conference League
Group stage (Eight groups of four teams)	1st and 2nd: Qualify for Champions League Round of 16 3rd: Qualify for Europa League knockout round play-offs 4th: Eliminated	1st: Qualify for Europa League Round of 16 2nd: Qualify for Europa League knockout round play-offs 3rd: Qualify for Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs 4th: Eliminated	1st: Qualify for Europa Conference League Round of 16 2nd: Qualify for Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs 3rd and 4th: Eliminated
Knockout round play-offs	-	Eight Champions League 3rd-placed teams vs. Eight Europa League 2nd-placed teams	Eight Europa League 3rd-placed teams vs. Eight Europa Conference League 2nd-place teams
Round of 16	16 group stage qualifiers	Eight group stage winners and Eight knockout round play-offs winners	Eight group stage winners and Eight knockout round play-offs winners

Everything you need to know about the Europa Conference League 2021/22

Europa Conference League 2021/22: Teams

Group	Teams
Group A	LASK, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Alashkert, HJK Helsinki
Group B	Gent, Partizan Belgrade, Flora Tallinn, Anorthosis Famagusta
Group C	Roma, Zorya Luhansk, CSKA Sofia, Bodo/Glimt
Group D	AZ Alkmaar, CFR Cluj, FK Jablonec, Randers
Group E	Slavia Prague, Feyenoord, Union Berlin, Maccabi Haifa
Group F	Copenhagen, PAOK, Slovan Bratislava, Lincoln Red Imps
Group G	Tottenham Hotspur, Rennes, Vitesse, NS Mura
Group H	Basel, Qarabag, Kairat Almaty, Omonia Nicosia

Europa Conference League 2021/22: Schedule

Europa Conference League 2021/22: Favourites

Team	Odds
Tottenham Hotspur	5.000*
Roma	6.500*
Feyenoord	21.000*
Rennes	21.000*
Union Berlin	21.000*
AZ Alkmaar	32.000*
Basel	32.000*
Vitesse	41.000*

As the team boasting arguably the best squad in the competition, Tottenham Hotspur (5.000*) currently lead the outright betting market for its first outing. While it is as yet unclear to what extent new manager Nuno Espirito Santo will treat the tournament as a priority, his team should possess the strength in depth required to overcome most other sides and they may consider it to be a promising opportunity to earn their first silverware since 2008.

Tottenham Hostpur and Rennes, who are both in Group G, are among the outright favourites to win the competition.

Following closely behind is Jose Mourinho’s Roma (6.500*). They have enjoyed a positive start to the season and recently bolstered their squad with the acquisitions of Rui Patricio and attacking duo Tammy Abraham and Eldor Shomurodov. The Italian side should not encounter any difficulties winning what appears to be a relatively straightforward group and Mourinho’s pedigree on the continental stage may easily prove an asset for the competition.

Feyenoord (21.000*) endured a disappointing domestic campaign last season to finish fifth in the Eredivisie, although that was also the first time they came outside the top four in the Dutch top division since 2011. Their well-balanced squad should be set for an appearance in the tournament’s latter knockout stages, while striker Luis Sinisterra has already established his pedigree for the competition by netting five goals during the qualifying rounds.

While the Champions League proved beyond Rennes’ (21.000*) level last season, only a late collapse in form denied them a top-five finish in Ligue 1 and they have since added the likes of Loic Bade and Baptiste Santamaria to their ranks. A second-placed finish behind Tottenham in Group G is likely, but they remain a consistently difficult team to play against and have earned impressive results at Roazhon Park during the last couple of seasons.

Union Berlin (21.000*) have been growing in stature in recent years and finished seventh in last season’s Bundesliga after only being promoted in 2019. Urs Fischer has built a young and impressive squad led by experienced forward Max Kruse and entering this month’s international break they were unbeaten in all competitions this season.

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