The draw for the Conference League knockout phase play-off round takes place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, with Chelsea due to learn their potential round-of-16 opponents
The draw for the Conference League knockout phase play-off round takes place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, with Chelsea due to learn their potential round-of-16 opponents The draw for the Conference League knockout phase play-off round takes place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, with Chelsea due to learn their potential round-of-16 opponents
Chelsea’s Conference League campaign has been such a breeze, they haven’t even needed Cole Palmer.
Enzo Maresca’s group of fringe players cruised to six wins out of six in the league phase, earning them direct qualification to the last 16. Chelsea had secured top spot even before Thursday’s Marc Guiu-inspired 5-1 thrashing of Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge, finishing four points ahead of Portuguese side Vitoria.
But that’s as simple as it gets, as now it’s time for the knockout phase play-off round draw. Although not directly involved, Chelsea will learn which teams they can face in the round-of-16.
The draw this afternoon will also determine which side of the knockouts each team will be placed on. From there, a route to the final in the Polish city of Wroclaw next May can be mapped out.
Scroll down as Mirror Football brings you live updates from UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Opening remarks
Reshmin Chowdhury is here to host the draw.
15 minutes to go
We’re not far off the start of this afternoon’s event.
Stay tuned.
Guiu’s hat-trick keeps Chelsea perfect
Chelsea have a perfect record in this competition since losing the second leg of their play-off clash with Swiss side Servette in August.
The Blues have beaten Gent, Panathinaikos, Noah, Heidenheim, Astana and last night hammered Shamrock Rovers.
Summer signing Marc Guiu scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win, showing why Chelsea were so keen to sign him from Barcelona.
Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Good morning
Hello and welcome to our live blog for today’s Confererence League knockout phase play-off round draw.
Kristian Skeie – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Who might Chelsea play?
This is where it gets complicated.
Although they won’t be directly invovled in the draw, Chelsea know that they’ll face one of four teams for a place in the quarter-finals.
As it stands, Chelsea will play one of: Gent, Copenhagen, Real Betis or Heidenheim.
The next draw on February 21 will determine the exact opponents.
Which teams are invovled?
The teams that finished between ninth and 24th place in the league phase will compete in a two-legged play-off to reach the round-of-16.
Seeded teams
9. Jagiellonia Bialystok
10. Shamrock Rovers
11. Apoel
12. Pafos
13. Panathinaikos
14. NK Olimpija Ljubljana
15. Real Betis
16. Heidenheim
Unseeded teams
17. Gent
18. Copenhagen
19. Vikingur Reykjavik
20. Borac
21. NK Celje
22. Omonoia
23. Molde
24. TSC Backa Topola
When is the draw?
The draw for the Conference League knockout phase play-offs begins at 12pm UK time.
It’ll be held in Nyon, Switzerland.
Mirror – Sport
