logo
Conference League draw LIVE: Chelsea to learn last-16 opponents

Conference League draw LIVE: Chelsea to learn last-16 opponents

Yahoo21-02-2025

The Conference League is set for the knockout stage draw with Chelsea set to learn their last-16 opponents.
Enzo Maresca is under pressure after a disastrous run of form, which has seen the Blues eliminated from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
The Blues have cruised in this competition though and remain strong favourites to complete the set of European trophies after winning the Champions League, Europa League and European Super Cup over the last decade.
After shifting Joao Felix and Axel Disasi in the January transfer window and Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended, meaning Maresca will shuffle his squad in the coming weeks and may even call upon his first-teamers, including Cole Palmer, who did not feature in the group stage.
The draw takes place following the Europa League draw, which includes Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers. Follow all the latest updates in Nyon from both draws below:
The draw for the last 16 of the Conference League takes place from 1pm GMT in Nyon, Switzerland
Chelsea discover opponents after topping their group in the League phase
Enzo Maresca's side are hot favourites in their last realistic chance of a trophy
Real Betis, Copenhagen and Fiorentina among other contenders in Europe's third-tier competition
08:21 , Jack Rathborn
League phase top eight (seeded, ordered alphabetically)Cercle Brugge (BEL)Chelsea (ENG)Djurgården (SWE)Fiorentina (ITA)Legia Warszawa (POL)Lugano (SUI) SK Rapid (AUT)Vitória SC (POR)
Knockout phase play-off winners (unseeded, ordered alphabetically)Borac (BIH)Celje (SVN)Copenhagen (DEN)Jagiellonia (POL)Molde (NOR)Pafos (CYP) Panathinaikos (GRE) Real Betis (ESP)
Thursday 20 February 2025 17:51 , Jack Rathborn
Hello and welcome to the Independent's coverage of the Europa League last-16 draw.
The ties for the 1/8 final will be revealed in Nyon, Switzerland later today following the Champions League last-16 draw.
And British interest comes in the shape of Manchester United and Tottenham, both favourites with the bookmakers at this stage of the competition.
While Rangers will also retain ambitions to go far on the road to Bilbao, with each side learning their path through the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Stay tuned for all the build-up and latest results, ties and dates from the draw.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'We realised…' – Ousmane Dembele recalls first impression of Ballon d'Or rival Lamine Yamal
'We realised…' – Ousmane Dembele recalls first impression of Ballon d'Or rival Lamine Yamal

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

'We realised…' – Ousmane Dembele recalls first impression of Ballon d'Or rival Lamine Yamal

It looks like the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or will either be a current Barcelona player, or a former one. Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Raphinha are all seen as candidates, but the one seen as the favourite at this stage is Ousmane Dembele. Dembele, who left Barcelona in 2023, had a sensational 2024-25 season with Paris Saint-Germain, whom he helped win a historic treble – which included their first-ever Champions League. And things could get better still, as the European champions are competing in this summer's Club World Cup. Advertisement And when speaking to France Football (via Sempre Barca), Dembele gave his thoughts on a possible Ballon d'Or success. 'It's difficult to say (if I will win). But winning a Ballon d'Or when you're a footballer is obviously the holy grail on an individual level. It's something you dream of as a child. I remember when I saw the players appear in Téléfoot to receive him. It was incredible. The object – the ball – is exceptional. 'This season I think I've been consistent, so we'll see what happens. It would be exceptional to have my name on the list. And to be one of the favourites is already a great victory, although I hope to win it one day.' Image viaAdvertisement Lamine Yamal is seen as Dembele's main rival for the award, and during the interview, he reminisced about his first impressions of the 17-year-old sensation, whom was played alongside briefly at Barcelona. 'They were already talking about him from a very young age in Barcelona. When he reached the professional team, we realised that he was exceptional and reached another level. In training, he would dribble, assist, and score.' Dembele also spoke on the impact that former Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique, who has had a monumental impact at PSG. 'With a coach like Luis Enrique, you know that if you don't defend, you go to the bench, and someone will take your place. For me, a striker should not cheat, he should make efforts all the time, both defensively and offensively, to help the team, not just when we attack. Thanks to that, PSG became European champions: we all defended and we all attacked.'

Fabrizio Romano: Atletico Make Unexpected Move for Liverpool Star
Fabrizio Romano: Atletico Make Unexpected Move for Liverpool Star

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Fabrizio Romano: Atletico Make Unexpected Move for Liverpool Star

Atletico Madrid Eye Surprise Move for Andy Robertson As Liverpool prepare for a major summer shake-up under Arne Slot, one of the club's most consistent performers could be heading for the exit. In a surprising twist, Fabrizio Romano reports that Atletico Madrid have made Andy Robertson their top target at left-back, casting fresh doubt over the Scot's future at Anfield. Robertson on Atletico's Radar Romano reveals that Atletico, having cooled their interest in AC Milan's Theo Hernandez, have now turned their attention to Robertson – a move that no one quite saw coming. With Milos Kerkez expected to arrive and Kostas Tsimikas long seen as the likely departure, this development flips the script entirely. Robertson, 30, has been a mainstay for Liverpool since arriving from Hull City in 2017. His intensity, overlapping runs, and defensive reliability helped drive the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory under Jürgen Klopp. Yet, in football, timing is everything – and this summer, the winds of change are sweeping through Merseyside. Precedents Set in Madrid Should Robertson make the move to Spain, he wouldn't be the first Premier League full-back to swap the UK for the Spanish capital. We have seen players such as Kieran Trippier, Matt Doherty and of course Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer leave for Spain in recent times. Advertisement Though Robertson is still a first team regular, his performance levels have dropped from his peak of the early Klopp days, so it could be an interesting move for the Scotsman – especially as he's never played outside the UK before. The physical demands of English football have taken a toll, and La Liga might offer a different tactical test with potentially less wear-and-tear. What It Means for Liverpool If Robertson leaves, it will mark the end of an era. But Liverpool aren't unprepared. The arrival of Jeremie Frimpong and the expected signing of Kerkez show clear intent to rejuvenate the full-back positions. Slot's system may demand different attributes – quicker ball movement, inverted full-backs, or even a new tactical shape that doesn't rely as heavily on Robertson's trademark overlaps. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis From a Liverpool fan's perspective, this is a bittersweet moment. Andy Robertson is one of our most loved and loyal servants of the Klopp era. His passion, grit, and engine down the left flank symbolised everything we admired about this team. Seeing his name linked with a move abroad is hard to process, but it may be the right time – for him and for us. Advertisement If we're honest, Robbo hasn't looked quite the same since the 2021-22 campaign. Injuries, fatigue, and tactical shifts have taken their toll. In Arne Slot's system, full-backs might play more conservatively or differently – and someone like Milos Kerkez, younger and more dynamic, could suit the future better. There's also something respectful about this potential exit. Atletico Madrid is no step down. Playing under Simeone, in La Liga, and competing in the Champions League is a challenge worthy of Robertson's pedigree. He could follow in the footsteps of Kieran Trippier and rejuvenate his career abroad while opening a new chapter for Liverpool. As Reds, we'll always honour Robbo's contribution. If he does go, it must be on the club's terms – and for the right price. But he'll leave with our gratitude and respect, knowing he helped build something special at Anfield.

Tottenham to make Mathys Tel move permanent with £30m transfer fee
Tottenham to make Mathys Tel move permanent with £30m transfer fee

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Tottenham to make Mathys Tel move permanent with £30m transfer fee

Tottenham are expected to seal the permanent signing of Mathys Tel for a fee of about €35m (£30m) in the next 48 hours. Spurs paid Bayern Munich a €10m loan fee to sign the forward for the second half of the Premier League season. The 20-year-old scored two goals in 13 league appearances, 11 of which were starts, but was an unused substitute for Spurs' Europa League final triumph over Manchester United, which resulted in their first trophy for 17 years. Advertisement Tel is poised to become the first signing of the Thomas Frank era, after the Dane replaced Ange Postecoglou as manager on a three-year contract, though the groundwork for the deal was completed before Frank's appointment on Monday. Frank is interested in reuniting with Bryan Mbeumo, who Brentford value north of £60m, but are yet to bid for the forward. Mbeumo, also wanted by Manchester United, has been a revelation for Brentford since signing from Troyes in a £5.8m deal in August 2019, when Brentford were in the Championship. Spurs believe Frank can play a key role in convincing Mbeumo to join. United have had a bid worth up to £55m rejected for the Cameroon forward and Brentford are under no pressure to sell. The transfer window reopens on Monday. Tel is on international duty with France at the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia. He started France's 0-0 Group C draw with Portugal on Wednesday, in which another Spurs winger, Wilson Odobert, played the entire match. France play Georgia in Zilina on Saturday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store