UEFA Conference League: Highlights from Each Stat in the Round of 16 Second-Leg Fixtures

Thursday’s UEFA Conference League matches were nothing short of exhilarating, with the return legs showcasing twists and turns that kept fans on the edge of their seats. As we wrap up this round, let’s take a look at one noteworthy statistic from each of the round of 16 fixtures.

29 – Rapid Wien secured their spot in the quarter-finals for the first time in 29 years, defeating Borac Banja Luka 2-1 in extra time, resulting in a 3-2 aggregate score. The Bosnian team’s remarkable European campaign has come to a close, but they can hold their heads high. In 1995/96, Rapid last reached this stage before losing 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup final.

3 – In a remarkable clash, Lugano and Celje went through a tense 120 minutes in Switzerland, with both teams scoring late goals to keep hope alive, eventually leading to penalties. Celje maintained their composure to pull off a 3-1 victory in the shootout. Lugano became the third team to score five goals in a UECL knockout round and still face elimination, following Maccabi Tel Aviv against Olympiakos last season and LASK’s match against Slavia Praha in the inaugural season, both in the round of 16.

16 – Paphos’ first European adventure has come to an end as the Cypriot side could not withstand their 1-0 lead against Djurgarden. The Swedish team emerged victorious with a 3-0 win at home, securing their place in the final eight. Djurgarden has now scored 16 goals in five matches against Cypriot teams, averaging an impressive 3.2 goals per game.

6 – Cercle Brugge could not overturn their 3-0 first-leg deficit against Jagiellonia Bialystok but managed a positive conclusion to their European campaign with a 2-0 victory on the night. This match marked their sixth clean sheet in UEFA club competitions, with five of those occurring this season. Jagiellonia progresses, keeping alive the hope for a Polish team to reach the Conference League final in Wroclaw.

13 – Real Betis put an end to Vitoria Guimaraes’ unbeaten European streak this season, claiming a convincing 4-0 triumph in Portugal. They recorded their third consecutive clean sheet away from home, becoming the furthest any Spanish team has progressed in the UECL. Vitoria, on the other hand, faced their most significant home loss in Europe in 13 and a half years, mirroring a similar defeat to Atletico Madrid in the 2011/12 Europa League playoff round.

5 – Legia Warszawa continued their strong home form with a 2-0 win against Molde after extra time, advancing 2-1 on aggregate. The Polish side gained revenge over the team that eliminated them last year. Legia has maintained five clean sheets at home in European competitions this season, including qualifiers. Meanwhile, Molde will miss out on European football next season after failing to qualify domestically.

21 – Fiorentina reached their third consecutive Conference League quarter-final following a 3-1 win over Panathinaikos, finishing 5-4 on aggregate. This match marked their 36th official UECL game in a three-year span, with Thursday’s victory being their 21st in the competition, the highest tally for any club.

8 – Chelsea edged past FC Kobenhavn with a slim 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, progressing with a 3-0 advantage over the two legs. The Blues now find themselves in the last eight of the competition, having won all eight of their matches in this year’s UECL proper, becoming the second team to achieve this feat. Chelsea has now registered eight wins in a European season for the fourth time, and in each of the previous occasions, they went on to lift the trophy.