2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League Group Stage Analysis

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The UEFA Europa Conference League is a new competition that will kick off in the 2023/24 season, featuring teams from across Europe who did not qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League. The draw for the group stage was held today, and here are some of the highlights and analyses of the eight groups.

Group A: Lille, Slovan Bratislava, Olimpija Ljubljana, Ki Klaksvik

Lille are the clear favorites in this group, having finished the French Ligue 1 on 5th place last season and retaining most of their key players. They have a balanced and experienced squad. Slovan Bratislava are the second seed, but they face a tough challenge from Olimpija Ljubljana, who have been dominant in Slovenia for the past few years. Ki Klaksvik are the weakest team of the group, but they have shown some resilience in the qualifying rounds, knocking out Dinamo Tbilisi and Rijeka.

Group B: Gent, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Zorya Luhansk, Breioablik

This is a very open group, with no clear favorite or underdog. Gent FC is a solid Belgian side who have reached the knockout stages of the Europa League twice in the past five seasons. Maccabi Tel Aviv is the most successful club in Israel, with 23 league titles and six European trophies. Zorya Luhansk is a resilient Ukrainian team who have overcome political and financial difficulties to compete at a high level. Breioablik is the group’s surprise package, having won their first Icelandic league title last year and impressing in the qualifiers.

Group C: Dinamo Zagreb, Viktoria Plzen, Astana, Ballkani

Dinamo Zagreb is the strongest team in this group, having reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season, where they stunned Tottenham Hotspur with a 3-0 comeback win. The Croatian champions have a talented and young squad featuring players like Lovro Majer, and Bruno Petkovic. Viktoria Plzen are their main rivals in the group, having won five Czech league titles in the past decade and regularly featuring in European competitions.

Astana is the dominant force in Kazakhstan, having won seven consecutive league titles and reaching the group stage of the Champions League once and the Europa League four times. Ballkani are the debutants in this group, having won their first Kosovo league title last season and eliminating Partizan Belgrade in the qualifiers.

Group D: Club Brugge, Bode/Glimt, Besiktas, Lugano

This is a very balanced group, with no clear favorite to top it. Club Brugge is the most experienced team in the group, having played in the Champions League and Europa League in recent seasons. They have a solid squad led by captain Hans Vanaken and striker Bas Dost. Bode/Glimt are the group’s surprise package, having won their first Norwegian title in 2020 and reached the Europa League play-offs in 2021. They play an attractive and attacking style of football, with star players like Erik Botheim and Patrick Berg.

Besiktas are the Turkish champions, and they have a strong and experienced team, with players like Vincent Aboubakar, Rachid Ghezzal, and Domagoj Vida. They will be hoping to improve their record in Europe after failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League last season. Lugano are the Swiss Cup winners, and they have a young and talented team, with players like Mattia Bottani, Alexander Gerndt, and Sandro Lovric. They will look to cause some upsets in the group and show their quality on the European stage.

Group E: AZ Alkmaar, Aston Villa, Legia Warsaw, Zrinjski Mostar

This is another competitive group, with four teams with a realistic chance of progressing to the next round. AZ Alkmaar are the Dutch runners-up, and they have a talented and exciting team, with players like Myron Boadu, Calvin Stengs, and Teun Koopmeiners. They have impressed in Europe in recent seasons, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2020 and 2021. Aston Villa is the English FA Cup winner, and they have a strong and ambitious team, with players like Jack Grealish, Ollie Watkins, and Emiliano Martinez. They have returned to Europe after a long absence and will be eager to make their mark on the competition.

Legia Warsaw is the Polish champions, and they have a dominant and experienced team with players like Artur Boruc, Jose Kante, and Bartosz Kapustka. They have been regulars in Europe for many years but have never gone beyond the group stage of any competition. Zrinjski Mostar are the Bosnian champions, and they have a resilient and determined team, with players like Nemanja Bilbija, Miljan Govedarica, and Ivan Lendric. They have defied the odds to reach the group stage for the first time in their history, and they will be hoping to continue their fairy tale run.

Group F: Ferencvaros, Fiorentina, Genk, Cukaricki

This group looks like a straightforward one for Fiorentina, who finished eight in Serie A last season. The Italian side should have no trouble topping the group and advancing to the knockout stage. The other three teams will fight for the second spot, with Ferencvaros having a slight edge over Genk and Cukaricki.

The Hungarian champions have European competition experience and some quality players like Tokmac Nguen and Myrto Uzuni. Genk, who finished first in the Belgian league, has a young and talented team but may lack consistency and experience. Cukaricki are the underdogs of the group, as they qualified for the first time in their history after winning the Serbian Cup. They will hope to cause some upsets and enjoy their debut in the competition.

Group G: Eintracht Frankfurt, PAOK Thessaloniki, HJK Helsinki, Aberdeen

This group is more balanced and unpredictable, as all four teams have a chance to progress to the next round. Eintracht Frankfurt are the favorites, as they finished fifth in the Bundesliga and have a solid team with players like Filip Kostic, Daichi Kamada, and Andre Silva. However, they will face tough opposition from PAOK Thessaloniki, one of Greece’s strongest teams, and have a passionate fan base. The Greek side has some experienced players like Dimitris Pelkas, Stefan Schwab, and Andrija Zivkovic, and will aim to challenge Frankfurt for the top spot.

HJK Helsinki and Aberdeen are the outsiders of the group, but they should not be underestimated. The Finnish champions have a well-organized team that can play attractive football, while the Scottish side has a history of upsetting bigger teams in Europe. Both teams will try to make the most of their home advantage and surprise their opponents.

Group H: LASK Linz, Antwerp, Zorya Luhansk, Derry City

One of the most interesting groups is Group H, where Turkish giants Fenerbahce will face Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad, Slovakian side Spartak Trnava and Danish outfit Nordsjalland. Fenerbahce are the clear favorites to top the group, having reached the quarter-finals of the competition last season and boasting a squad full of experienced and talented players. Ludogorets are no strangers to European football, having qualified for the group stage of either the Champions League or the Europa League for nine consecutive seasons.

They will hope to repeat their feat of 2016/2017 when they finished second in their group ahead of Basel and PSG. Spartak Trnava is making their third appearance in the Europa League group stage after winning their domestic league title for the second time in their history. They will rely on their passionate fans and their solid defense to cause some upsets. Nordsjalland are the newcomers in the group, having qualified for the Europa League for the first time by finishing third in the Danish Superliga. They have a young and exciting team that plays an attractive and attacking style of football.