The final part of our three-part series this week reviewing the main draws for the three UEFA competitions this season focuses on the Europa Conference League.
This new competition has actually proven to be a huge success. Not only has it given some of the lesser lights in Europe a chance to shine in a big competition, but it has also improved the quality of the Europa League markedly too.
The fact it now mirrors the format of the Europa League and closely that of the Champions League also helps keep the fixtures tidy as we progress through the season.
Last season, West Ham defeated Fiorentina in the final to claim their first European trophy for many years and this year, it is Aston Villa who will represent England in the Europa Conference League, with West Ham earning a spot in the Europa League by virtue of their victory.
Bet365 Sport is already offering odds on all the 32 teams in the Group Stage to win the Conference League and we have previewed these odds as well as each of the groups below.
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Group A
KI
Lille
Olimpija Ljubljana
Slovan Bratislava
Fixtures
20th September
3.30pm – Lille v Olimpija Ljubljana
21st September
8.00pm – Slovan Bratislava v KI
5th October
5.45pm – Olimpija Ljubljana v Slovan Bratislava
5.45pm – KI v Lille
26th October
5.45pm – KI v Olimpija Ljubljana
5.45pm – Lille v Slovan Bratislava
9th November
8.00pm – Olimpija Ljubljana v KI
8.00pm – Slovan Bratislava v Lille
30th November
5.45pm – Olimpija Ljubljana v Lille
5.45pm – KI v Slovan Bratislava
14th December
8.00pm – Lille v KI
8.00pm – Slovan Bratislava v Olimpija Ljubljana
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
KI – 500/1
Lille – 12/1
Olimpija Ljubljana – 200/1
Slovan Bratislava – 40/1
Group Preview And Tips
Lille should win Group A comfortably as they are the class outfit here and Slovan Bratislava will likely finish second.
Group B
Breidabik
Gent
Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Zorya Luhansk
Fixtures
21st September
8.00pm – Maccabi Tel Aviv v Breidabik
8.00pm – Zorya Luhansk v Gent
5th October
5.45pm – Gent v Maccabi Tel Aviv
5.45pm – Breidabik v Zorya Luhansk
26th October
5.45pm – Gent v Breidabik
5.45pm – Maccabi Tel Aviv v Zorya Luhansk
9th November
8.00pm – Breidabik v Gent
8.00pm – Zorya Luhansk v Maccabi Tel Aviv
30th November
5.45pm – Gent v Zorya Luhansk
8.00pm – Breidabik v Maccabi Tel Aviv
14th December
8.00pm – Maccabi Tel Avib – Gent
8.00pm – Zorya Luhansk v Breidabik
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
Breidabik – 250/1
Gent – 40/1
Maccabi Tel-Aviv – 150/1
Zorya Luhansk – 250/1
Group Preview And Tips
An interesting group. Gent should win the group, but each of their opponents will offer a challenge away from home. Who finishes second is more of a question and I think it could be the Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv that make it through.
Group C
Astana
Ballkani
Dinamo Zagreb
Viktoria Plzen
Fixtures
21st September
8.00pm – Dinamo Zagreb v Astana
8.00pm – Viktoria Plzen v Ballkani
5th October
3.30pm – Astana v Viktoria Plzen
5.45pm – Ballkani v Dinamo Zagreb
26th October
5.45pm – Ballkani v Astana
8.00pm – Dinamo Zagreb v Viktoria Plzen
9th November
3.30pm – Astana v Ballkani
5.45pm – Viktoria Plzen v Dinamo Zagreb
30th November
3.30pm – Astana v Dinamo Zagreb
5.45pm – Ballkani v Viktoria Plzen
14th December
8.00pm – Dinamo Zagreb v Ballkani
8.00pm – Viktoria Plzen v Astana
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
Astana – 100/1
Ballkani – 500/1
Dinamo Zagreb – 40/1
Viktoria Plzen – 40/1
Group Preview And Tips
Astana is a tricky place to visit for any European team but I think both Zagreb and Plzen will have more than enough quality to qualify from this Conference League group, probably with the Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen finishing in top spot. Zagreb should join them in the Conference League knockout phase.
Group D
Besiktas
Bodo Glimt
Club Brugge
Lugano
Fixtures
21st September
8.00pm – Lugano v Bodo Glimt
8.00pm – Club Brugge v Besiktas
5th October
5.45pm – Besiktas v Lugano
5.45pm – Bodo Glimt v Club Brugge
26th October
5.45pm – Lugano v Club Brugge
8.00pm – Bodo Glimt v Besiktas
9th November
5.45pm – Besiktas v Bodo Glimt
8.00pm – Club Brugge v Lugano
30th November
5.45pm – Besiktas v Club Brugge
5.45pm – Bodo Glimt v Lugano
14th December
8.00pm – Club Brugge v Bodo Glimt
8.00pm – Lugano v Besiktas
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
Besiktas – 25/1
Bodo Glimt – 150/1
Club Brugge – 20/1
Lugano – 150/1
Group Preview And Tips
Besiktas and Club Brugge stand out in Group D as the teams most likely to qualify for the Conference League knockout phase, but you can’t rule out Bodo Glimt. The Norwegian side have upset some big teams in past years and could provide a shock here if either Besiktas or Brugge slip up. That said, I don’t think either will and both should reach the Conference League knockout stage.
Group E
AZ Alkmaar
Aston Villa
Legia Warzaw
Zrjinski
Fixtures
21st September
5.45pm – Legia Warzaw v Aston Villa
5.45pm – Zrinjski v AZ Alkmaar
5th October
8.00pm – Aston Villa v Zrinjski
8.00pm – AZ Alkmaar v Legia Warzaw
26th October
5.45pm – AZ Alkmaar v Aston Villa
8.00pm – Zrinjski v Legia Warzaw
9th November
5.45pm – Legia Warzaw v Zrinjski
8.00pm – Aston Villa v AZ Alkmaar
30th November
5.45pm – AZ Alkmaar v Zrinjski
8.00pm – Aston Villa v Legia Warzaw
14th December
5.45pm – Legia Warzaw v AZ Alkmaar
5.45pm – Zrinjski v Aston Villa
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
AZ Alkmaar – 14/1
Aston Villa – 4/1 fav
Legia Warzaw – 150/1
Zrjinski – 500/1
Group Preview And Tips
There is a lot more quality in Group E than previous Conference League groups with AZ Alkmaar and Aston Villa being the dominant forces. That said Zrinjski will be a tough away game in Serbia for all teams in this group and Legia Warzaw are no pushovers either. It won’t be straightforward but I think AZ and Villa do make it through to the Conference League knockout phase.
Group F
Cukaricki
Ferencvaros
Fiorentina
Genk
Fixtures
21st September
5.45pm – Ferencvaros v Cukaricki
5.45pm – Genk v Fiorentina
5th October
8.00pm – Cukaricki v Genk
8.00pm – Fiorentina v Ferencvaros
26th October
8.00pm – Fiorentina v Cukaricki
8.00pm – Genk v Ferencvaros
9th November
5.45pm – Ferencvaros v Genk
5.45pm – Cukaricki v Fiorentina
30th November
8.00pm – Cukaricki v Ferencvaros
8.00pm – Fiorentina v Genk
14th December
5.45pm – Genk v Cukaricki
5.45pm – Ferencvaros v Fiorentina
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
Cukaricki – 250/1
Ferencvaros – 100/1
Fiorentina – 7/1
Genk – 20/1
Group Preview And Tips
Group F in the Conference League should be won by Fiorentina, last year’s losing finalists in this competition. Genk should also be strong showers in this group but Ferencvaros have looked dangerous in Europe the last few years and I think the Hungarians could surprise the Belgian side here and finish second behind Fiorentina.
Group G
Aberdeen
Eintracht Frankfurt
HJK
PAOK Salonika
Fixtures
21st September
5.45pm – Eintracht Frankfurt v Aberdeen
5.45pm – HJK v PAOK Salonika
5th October
8.00pm – Aberdeen. V HJK
8.00pm – PAOK v Eintracht Frankfurt
26th October
8.00pm – Aberdeen v PAOK
8.00pm – Eintracht Frankfurt v HJK
9th November
5.45pm – PAOK v Aberdeen
5.45pm – HJK v Eintracht Frankfurt
30th November
5.45pm – HJK v Aberdeen
8.00pm – Eintracht Frankfurt – PAOK
14th December
5.45pm – Aberdeen v Eintracht Frankfurt
5.45pm – PAOK v HJK
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
Aberdeen – 150/1
Eintracht Frankfurt – 10/1
HJK – 250/1
PAOK Salonika – 40/1
Group Preview And Tips
Eintracht Frankfurt will win this Conference League group, I have no doubts about that and they may win all six games. The question for me is who finishes second. Aberdeen are probably the better of the other two teams, but it is a coin toss between all three. Despite this, I am going for Aberdeen to surprise everyone and claim the second spot in the group.
Group H
Fenerbahce
Ludogoretz Razgrad
Nordsjaelland
Spartak Trnava
Fixtures
21st September
5.45pm – Fenerbahce v Nordsjaelland
5.45pm – Ludogorets v Spartak Trnava
5th October
8.00pm – Norsjaelland v Ludogorets
8.00pm – Spartak Trnava v Fenerbahce
26th October
5.45pm – Fenerbahce v Ludogorets
8.00pm – Spartak Trnava v Nordsjaelland
9th November
5.45pm – Nordsjaelland v Spartak Trnava
8.00pm – Ludogorets v Fenerbahce
30th November
8.00pm – Spartak Trnava v Ludogorets
8.00pm – Nordsjaelland v Fenerbahce
14th December
5.45pm – Ludogorets v Nordsjaelland
5.45pm – Fenerbahce v Spartak Trnava
Latest Odds To Win Conference League
Fenerbahce – 25/1
Ludogoretz Razgrad – 40/1
Nordsjaelland – 100/1
Spartak Trnava – 250/1
Group Preview And Tips
Not the most appealing of groups in terms of big names but Turkish side Fenerbahce should win this Conference League group, and Ludogorets should finish second. Nordsjaelland may push them both hard here, but I stil expect the two favourites to progress.
Ian John is a seasoned Sports Writer and UK gambling expert with over a decade of experience at Bonus Code Poker. For the past 10 years, he has been providing readers with insightful analysis and expert opinions on sports betting and poker.
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