{"id":302348,"date":"2023-12-13T22:26:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T22:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=302348"},"modified":"2023-12-13T22:26:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T22:26:49","slug":"europa-league-and-conference-league-permutations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/europa-league-and-conference-league-permutations\/","title":{"rendered":"Europa League and Conference League permutations"},"content":{"rendered":"
This Thursday, the final round of Europa League and Europa Conference League matches will take place – with plenty to play for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the Europa League, the likes of West Ham, Brighton and Liverpool\u00a0will return to action – with the Reds’ place in the knockout rounds confirmed.<\/p>\n
West Ham and Brighton are also guaranteed to progress from the group stage however their placement in the group is still yet to be decided.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa will get back to action in the Conference League where they will look to finalise their place at the top of the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here, Mail Sport takes a look at the possible permutations for this week’s European fixtures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Premier League clubs will be returning to action to Europa League and Europa Conference League action on Thursday night\u00a0<\/p>\n
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West Ham are among the teams that will be looking to finalise top spot in their groups<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
In truth, there’s not that much to play for in Group A. After dominant performances, both West Ham and Freiburg have guaranteed a place in the next round.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The English and German sides sit level on points (12) – with the latter boasting a goal difference eight better than the Hammers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, both teams will be playing to earn top spot in the group as they look to avoid a play-off game with one of the expelled teams from the Champions League.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Olympiacos sit three points ahead of Backa Topola and boast a better goal difference – making it likely they’ll secure third spot and head to the Conference League.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once again, there’s not much up for grabs in Group B – with Marseille and Brighton already guaranteed to go through.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, similarly to Group A, the French and English side will still be competing to finish top of the group – with just one point currently separating them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The final round of fixtures, however, will see the two sides face-off against one another, giving them both the opportunity to claim top spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, AEK Athens lead Ajax by two points in the group – meaning that the winner of their game will head into the Europa Conference League.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Brighton will need a victory in their final game to take top spot in Group B<\/p>\n
One of the more intriguing groups remaining in the competition.<\/p>\n
With just two points separating the top three teams – with Aris Limassol cast adrift with a measly four points – there’s plenty to play for in Group C.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scottish giants Rangers will be eager to get to the next round but will know that their clash with top of the group Betis will be a tough challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once again, a lot has already been settled in this group.<\/p>\n
Atalanta and Sporting have already qualified – it’s just a question as to which team will finish first and second.<\/p>\n
The Italian side have a three-point advantage over Lisbon and also boast a goal difference three better than the Portuguese giants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile,\u00a0Sturm Graz and Rakow Czestochowa are level on points (four) heading into the final game of the group.<\/p>\n
Jurgen Klopp’s side have stormed Group E and have a guaranteed place in the knockout rounds of the competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their 12 points puts them four ahead of second-place Toulouse – who have a three-point lead ahead of\u00a0Union Saint-Gilloise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The French side can guarantee a place in the play-off rounds if they either draw or beat LASK – who will be gunning for that third placed spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Liverpool have guaranteed top place in their group after their dominant performances<\/p>\n
Again, most of the important aspects in this group have already been decided.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rennes and Villarreal will take the top two spots – with their order set to be decided after they play eachother on Thursday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos and Maccabi Haifa have just two points separating them – meaning that either side could be heading to the Conference League.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We’re beginning to sound like a broken record here but, once again, the majority of things have already been sorted in this group.<\/p>\n
Slavia Prague and Roma will take the top two spots with just two points separating them heading into the final round of fixtures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Servette are guaranteed to be heading to the Conference League while FC Sheriff will be sent home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It might not come as a surprise, given their impressive domestic form, but Bayer Leverkusen have stormed their group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xabi Alonso’s side are guaranteed top place – while Qarabag and Molde will be battling it out for the final spot in the next round.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two teams are tied on seven points but the Norwegian outfit have the difficult task of facing the Bundesliga leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Bayer Leverkusen have impressed both domestically and in Europe<\/p>\n
Moving into the Conference League groups and, once again, a lot has been decided already.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lille and Slovan Bratislava are the top two teams in the group with the French side leading by just one point.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Klaksvi and Olimpija Ljubljana will be sent out of the competition – with nothing getting awarded to third place in these groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another group where the fate for most the teams has already been sealed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Gent will qualify for the next stage however the order in which they qualify is still yet to be decided – given they are separated by just a point.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Zoya and Breidablik will be eliminated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the more intriguing groups remaining in the competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Viktoria Plzen – who typically compete in the Champions League – have stormed the group and are guaranteed to top the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, all three of the remaining teams can clinch second place in the group – with just two points separating second and fourth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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French side Lille are only top of the table by one point – meaning they need a win on Thursday<\/p>\n
Belgian side Club Brugge have won four out of their five matches in the group stage this year, putting them three points clear at the top of the group.<\/p>\n
Bodo\/Glimt are currently second and cannot be overtaken – guaranteeing them a place in the next round.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That means for Lugano and Besiktas, they’ll be heading out of the competition. The Turkish giants will be particularly disappointed after picking up just one point.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have brought their impressive domestic form to Europe with them this year and have walked through their Europa Conference League group.<\/p>\n
They currently sit top – by three points – but could still qualify second if Legia Warsaw win their match against AZ on Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Warsaw claimed victory over Villa in the opening round of fixtures meaning – if they were level on points – the Polish side would progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there’s no chance of progression for the likes of\u00a0AZ and Zrinjski Mostar.<\/p>\n
Another group where there’s a lot to play for heading into the final round of fixtures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fiorentina are guaranteed to go through however their place in the group is far from confirmed.<\/p>\n
Ferencvaros are just two points behind and can leapfrog the Italian side with a victory over them on Thursday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, if\u00a0Ferencvaros lose and Genk win (and achieve a better goal difference) then they will qualify second in the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cukaricki, on the other hand, are already down and out having failed to pick up a single point thus far.<\/p>\n
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Aston Villa will try to avoid finishing second in their group on Thursday night<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n \u00a0In Group G, PAOK have marched to the top of the table and are the only undefeated team remaining in the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n Their place in the next round of fixtures is already confirmed, given they’re four points ahead of second-placed Frankfurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n Aberdeen and HJK – who sit on three and two points respectively – will be eliminated from the competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n A rare occasion where the teams at the top of the group are separated by a very fine margin.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nordsjaelland, Ludogorets and Fenerbahce are separated by just a point – meaning any two of the three could go through.<\/p>\n However,\u00a0Nordsj\u00e6lland and Ludogorets will face eachother meaning that, if they both wanted to progress, they would have to draw and hope that\u00a0Fenerbah\u00e7e are beaten by\u00a0Spartak Trnava.\u00a0<\/p>\n If the Turkish giants manage to beat their opponents and the other match is a draw, then they will qualify top of the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unfortunately for\u00a0Spartak Trnava – who sit on just one point – there is no chance of progression.\u00a0<\/p>\nGROUP G – PAOK, Frankfurt, Aberdeen, HJK<\/h2>\n
GROUP H – Nordsjaelland, Ludogorets, Fenerbah\u00e7e, Spartak Trnava<\/h2>\n