More stories

  • in

    Copenhagen vs Chelsea LIVE SCORE: Conference League updates as Blues travel to Denmark for last-16 first leg – latest

    CHELSEA travel to Denmark to take on Danish Superliga leaders Copenhagen in the first leg of their Conference League last 16 tie.Enzo Maresca’s Blues have endured a tough spell as of late, but still look comfortable favourites to pick up victory in Denmark.They put a disappointing spell behind them as they swept aside Southampton 4-0 in their last fixture.Copenhagen reached the round of 16 after finishing 18th in the Conference League table and beating FC Heidenheim in the knockout eliminator.Kick-off time: 5:45pm GMTTV channel: TNT Sports 4Live stream: discovery+Copenhagen team: team to follow…Chelsea team: team to follow…CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…Welcome to SunSport’s coverage of Copenhagen vs Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League!Chelsea take on Copenhagen in the Conference League round of 16.The first leg will take place in Denmark, and the second leg this time in a week will take place at Stamford Bridge.Enzo Maresca’s side have had the privilege of rotating for much of the group stage, but still looked more than comfortable as they topped the league table.Copenhagen had to go through the elimination knockout round to get here, and were run close by Heidenheim.The Danish side edged past the Germans, scoring in the 113th minute of the second leg to go through 4-3 on aggregate.Maresca’s Blues have struggled as of late, but were comfortable 4-0 victors over Southampton last time out, so will be hoping to build on that victory tonight.Stay tuned for LIVE updates of Chelsea’s trip to Denmark, courtesy of SunSport.Copy linkCopied More

  • in

    Which players have earned the most Dream Team points in Europe this season?

    THE European competitions are once again in the Dream Team spotlight.Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea are all set to play the first legs of their respective round of 16 ties this week with the second legs to follow in Gameweek 27.Morgan Rogers and Christopher Nkunku have had success in Europe this seasonCredit: Dream TeamWith that in mind, let’s recap which players have earned the most points in Europe so far this season.51 pts – Emi Martinez (£3.6m)Aston Villa flew out of the blocks upon their return to the Champions League with wins over Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna, all without conceding a goal.Naturally, their World Cup winning goalkeeper benefited hugely from these early clean sheets, which he fought tooth and nail for, especially against Harry Kane and company.In fact, 22 of Martinez’s 32 saves in Europe this season came in his first four outings in the competition.The Argentine stopper’s midweek returns have been a huge factor in him maintaining a lofty ranking among players in his position.51 pts – Marc Guiu (£2.3m)The 19 year-old forward has played just 70 minutes in the league for Chelsea this season but he’s thoroughly enjoyed himself on Thursday nights.Guiu has six goals in the Conference League at a rate of one every 47.3 minutes.His crowning moment came in Gameweek 15 when he bagged a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers.Most read in FootballIt will be interesting to see whether the young Spaniard continues to get minutes now the competition has reached the knockout stage.Maresca has rotated his squad in the Conference LeagueCredit: Reuters53 pts – Kai Havertz (£4.7m)Arsenal’s No29 cops plenty of criticism at times but he played a vital role in ensuring the Gunners’ relatively smooth progression to the last 16 of the Champions League.Havertz scored four goals and provided one assist in eight European outings before his injury.The Germany international’s hamstring problem may rule him out for the remainder of the campaign and so he’s not an option for Dream Team bosses going forward.54 pts – Morgan Rogers (£3.9m)Aston Villa’s silky midfielder made a huge statement in his most recent Champions League appearance when scored a hat-trick against Celtic for a 24-point return.That dominant display helped Unai Emery’s side progress to the round of 16 directly, avoiding the stress of play-offs.Rogers is one of the first names on the team sheet when available and he is expected to start against Club Brugge in Belgium this evening.With an ownership of 29.1%, the 22-year-old is currently Dream Team’s third-most popular midfielder and so big things are expected of him this month.Rogers produced a masterclass against Celtic back in Gameweek 21Credit: Getty56 pts – Bukayo Saka (£6.6m)Mikel Arteta would feel far more confident of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals if he was able to field his talismanic No7.Amazingly, Saka amassed 56 points from just five European games via four goals and two assists before his injury.More broadly, the England star averages 9.3 points-per-game in 2024/25, a rate only bettered by runaway points leader Mohamed Salah (£8.3m).How gaffers would love to be able to select Saka again before the end of the season.58 pts – Rasmus Hojlund (£3.2m)A surprise inclusion here as Manchester United’s Danish striker has looked relatively ineffective for much of the campaign.However, while Hojlund’s record of two goals in 22 league games is rather miserable, five goals in eight in the Europa League paints a far brighter picture.Given that Europe is the Red Devils’ last route to a trophy this season, Ruben Amorim will do everything he can to motivate Hojlund ahead of two legs against Real Sociedad.It would be a stretch to say that the former Atalanta speedster is a wise selection in Dream Team right now but gaffers should consider which players tend to perform better in Europe when the continental competitions take centre stage.Hojlund’s best performances have come in the Europa League this seasonCredit: Rex59 pts – Mohamed Salah (£8.3m)No list of top performers would be complete without Liverpool’s prolific No11.The only surprise is that the Egyptian superstar ranks just fourth given the Reds topped the Champions League league phase.Salah was rested against PSV in Gameweek 21 but he registered three goals and four assists in the seven outings previous at an average of one goal involvement every 86 minutes – incredibly, that’s a tad under par for him this season.He was slightly hindered by an inconsequential penalty miss against Real Madrid in late November but his numbers are staggeringly good nonetheless.With Ballon d’Or talk increasing, it’s all eyes on Salah ahead of Liverpool’s meetings with PSG in the very near future.64 pts – Phil Foden (£6.1m)Last season’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year has struggled this time around but he made hay in Europe before Manchester City’s untimely exit.Pep Guardiola’s side paid the price for their error-strewn performances when they were forced to meet Champions League specialists Real Madrid in the play-offs.Foden notched two goals, three assists and eight bonus points in nine games but that’s all in the past now – Man City were the only English team dumped out of Europe before the last 16.Foden’s viability has dropped significantly since Man City’s defeat to Real MadridCredit: Getty64 pts – Christopher Nkunku (£3.4m)The lesson here is that Conference League mismatches are bursting with potential.Chelsea’s French forward was largely restricted to midweek action for the first two thirds of the campaign and he proved himself too strong for the likes of Noah, Gent and Heidenheim.Nkunku averages a goal or assist every 48.3 minutes in Europe this season and there may well be more returns to come as the Blues are the bookies’ big favourites to lift the trophy come May.It would be a mistake for Dream Team bosses to disregard the Conference League as the season draws to a conclusion, providing Enzo Maresca’s troops make it past Copenhagen of course.85 pts – Erling Haaland (£8.1m)Man City’s No9 has been in a league of his own in Europe this term with eight goals from nine outings.But he will now have to watch his rivals catch up to his points tally from the comfort of his sofa following his elimination from the Champions League.It’s notable that Haaland’s ownership has dropped since City succumbed to Jude Bellingham and friends.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn fact, he was the second-most transferred-out player prior to Gameweek 26.Dream Team managers have become accustomed to Man City points aplenty in the season’s closing months but 2024/25 looks set to forge a different path.Haaland won’t be adding to his tally of eight Champions League goals this seasonCredit: GettyScore PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

  • in

    Cole Palmer has gone off the boil but appealing fixtures encourage Dream Team bosses to hold their nerve

    FOR the first time in his career, Cole Palmer (£5.8m) has gone off the boil.After an uncharacteristically wasteful performance against Southampton on Tuesday night, Chelsea’s talisman took to Instagram to tell fans: “Don’t worry I will be back.”Palmer wasn’t his usual self against SouthamptonCredit: Dream TeamPalmer has now gone seven games without a goal, which isn’t a catastrophe for a midfielder by any means but it represents a significant downturn from the immensely high standards he has set for himself since his move to Stamford Bridge.A home game against bottom-of-the-league Saints seemed like the perfect opportunity for the 22-year-old to end his drought but he squandered several chances, failing to exhibit the composure he has become known for in the last year.Christopher Nkunku (£3.2m), Pedro Neto (£2.8m), Levi Colwill (£2.7m) and Marc Cucurella (£3.6m) all got on the scoresheet in what was a much-needed win for the Blues but Palmer’s dipping form remains a concern for Enzo Maresca.And it’s giving plenty of Dream Team managers headaches too.Stick or twist?Credit: GettyWith 260 points to his name, Palmer’s overall record remains hugely impressive.Even now, only runaway leader Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) boasts a superior points-per-game average.Alongside his 14 goals and nine assists, Palmer ranks third among all assets for shots on target, joint-fourth for big chances created, and joint-ninth for bonus points.The fact the 56.8%-owned midfielder has so many avenues to points has proved useful in recent weeks when goals have deserted him.Most read in FootballSince his last goal, Palmer has ticked over with 39 points at an average of 5.6 points-per-game, which is not to be sniffed at in the slightest.Such is the England star’s level that his returns have remained healthy enough during his ‘bad spell’.Maresca has added Palmer to his Conference League squadCredit: ReutersBut his owners have every right to feel frustrated as more than a few points have gone begging in the last month or so.What’s telling is that, at this moment in time, Palmer is among the most transferred-out players ahead of Gameweek 26.Having been eliminated from the FA Cup by Brighton, Chelsea’s only fixture this coming Gameweek is against Copenhagen in the Conference League round of 16.Dream Team managers should be aware that Palmer has been added to the club’s European squad and is therefore eligible to play in Denmark next Thursday.He wasn’t included in the squad for the league phase in an effort to manage his workload but with the West Londoners heavy favourites to lift the trophy come May, Maresca has called up his star player.Palmer might feature against CopenhagenCredit: PAIt’s still difficult to predict Palmer’s minutes against Copenhagen but the prospect of him playing in Europe’s tertiary competition is an appealing one.Looking slightly further ahead, Gameweek 27 appears mightily favourable for Chelsea on paper.READ MORE SUN STORIES19th-placed Leicester are due in the capital four days before Copenhagen fly over for the second leg.Palmer may not be at his best but gaffers prepared to go without him for that double header will surely be worried about extensive damage. More

  • in

    Europa Conference League draw LIVE: Chelsea get DREAM path to the final as they avoid big hitters – updates

    CHELSEA were handed a DREAM path to the final of the Europa Conference League.Enzo Maresca’s Blues are massive favourites for the competition after they come through the group phase with six wins and 25 goals, all while resting Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.Chelsea will face Copenhagen in the round of 16 then the winner, and then the winner of Molde vs Legia Warsaw – importantly, the likes of Fiorentina and Real Betis are on the other side of the draw.The Round of 16 matches take place on March 6/13, while the quarter-finals are on April 10/17.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow ALL of the latest updates below…Making historyAs well as silverware, there are two big incentives for Chelsea to win this year’s Conference League.If they do so, they will become the first side to triumph in all three of Uefa’s main competitions.While winning it will also guarantee a place in next season’s Europa League – should their form in the Premier League drop away. Credit: PACopy linkCopiedChelsea’s route to the finalEnzo Maresca’s Blues are the big favourites to lift the Conference League after blitzing their way through the group stages.Following today’s draw, here’s their route to the final on May 28.Round of 16: CopenhagenQuarter-final: Molde or Legia WarsawSemi-final: Pafos, Djurgarden, Borac or SK RapidFinal: Real Betis, Vitoria SC, Jagielloina, Cercle Brugge, Celje, Lugano, Panathinaikos or FiorentinaCredit: PACopy linkCopiedDates for the diaryWith the final draw of the season now complete, we now know the route to the final in Warsaw in May.Here’s the schedule for the Conference League over the next 99 days: Round of 16: 6 & 13 MarchQuarter-finals: 10 & 17 AprilSemi-finals: 1 & 8 MayFinal: 28 MayCredit: EPACopy linkCopiedUefa make ‘exception’ for Chelsea and SpursUefa rules usually prevent two clubs in the same city, or within a 50km radius, hosting European matches on the same day.But the organisation have reportedly relaxed rules ahead of Chelsea and Spurs now both being in action on March 13.Chelsea will host Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham welcome AZ Alkmaar to North London in the Europa League. Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedKeep Palm and carry onChelsea won all of their group stage games on their way to the Conference League knockouts. Cole Palmer wasn’t registered by the club in the early stages of the competition, with the club preferring to keep the England star fit for domestic action.But Chelsea have now activated Palmer for the remainder of the tournament. Trevoh Chalobah and Mathis Amougou will also be available to Enzo Maresca against Copenhagen. Copy linkCopiedConference League draw in fullIf you’re just joining us after your lunch break, here’s a reminder of how the Conference League draw played out. Jagiellonia Bialystok vs Cercle BruggeMolde vs Legia WarsawCelje vs LuganoPafos vs DjurgardenPanathinaikos vs FiorentinaBorac vs Rapid ViennaReal Betis vs VitoriaCopenhagen vs ChelseaCredit: EPACopy linkCopiedMaresca rallying cryChelsea’s Enzo Maresca maintains that the Blues are targeting a top-four spot this season.And he’s called on Chelsea fans to stop looking backwards and instead embrace the run-in. Maresca said: “The only thing I can say is that every time the fans have been behind us, we really appreciate because we are sure that with the fans behind we can achieve soon our target.”We mention many times that when you can hear the fans pushing in behind [you], it is a nice feeling.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedChelsea vs Copenhagen head-to-headThe Blues are no strangers to the Danish club, with the last meeting coming in 2011.On that occasion, Copenhagen frustrated Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge. In the reverse fixture, a Nicolas Anelka brace gave Chelsea all three points in the Danish capital.Chelsea 1-1 Copenhagen – 22 October 1998, Cup Winners CupCopenhagen 0-1 Chelsea – 5 November 1998, Cup Winners CupCopenhagen 0-2 Chelsea – 22 February 2011, Champions LeagueChelsea 0-0 Copenhagen – 16 March 2011, Champions LeagueCopy linkCopiedAll Bets are offChelsea could be on a potential collision course with Real Betis if they reach the Conference League final.The Spanish side are currently 8th in LaLiga.Manchester United winger Antony is on loan at the club – and has hit three goals in five games since moving to Spain .Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – Blues learn fateChelsea will take on FC Copenhagen for a place in the last-eight of the Europa Conference League.The winner of that tie will face either Molde or Legia Warsaw in the quarters.While Enzo Maresca’s side are on the other side of the draw to both Fiorentina and Real Betis. Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw semi-final bracketSemi-final 1Jagiellonia Bialystok or Cercle Brugge vs Real Betis or VitoriaCelje or Lugano vs Panathinaikos or FiorentinaSemi-final 2Copenhagen or Chelsea vs Molde or Legia WarsawPafos or Djurgarden vs Borac or Rapid ViennaCredit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw quarter-final bracketJagiellonia Bialystok or Cercle Brugge vs Real Betis or VitoriaCelje or Lugano vs Panathinaikos or FiorentinaCopenhagen or Chelsea vs Molde or Legia WarsawPafos or Djurgarden vs Borac or Rapid ViennaCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw in fullJagiellonia Bialystok vs Cercle BruggeMolde vs Legia WarsawCelje vs LuganoPafos vs DjurgardenPanathinaikos vs FiorentinaBorac vs Rapid ViennaReal Betis vs VitoriaCopenhagen vs ChelseaCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestCopenhagen vs ChelseaCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestReal Betis vs Vitoria Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestBorac vs Rapid ViennaCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestPanathinaikos vs FiorentinaCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestPafos vs DjurgardenCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestCelje vs Lugano Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestMolde vs Legia WarsawCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestJagiellonia Bialystok vs Cercle BruggeCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestConvoluted draw explainer video finally over, time to get underway…Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestMichal Zewlakow is the legend introduced to draw out the ties.18 goals in over 450 career games – his entire montage consists of bone-crunching tackles and fist pumps to the crowd.Proper player. He also tips Chelsea to go all the way…Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestIt wouldn’t be a Uefa event without montages.We’re currently in the middle of a lengthy introduction, with all 16 teams getting their own slot. Draw soon…promise. Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw – latestAnother set change in Nyon for the third draw of the day. Pedro Pinto is earning his coin. He hosts yet again with Uefa bigwig Giorgio Marchetti about to introduce a legend to draw the ties. Credit: AFPCopy linkCopied More

  • in

    Chelsea learn Conference League fate… and could face reborn Man Utd flop Antony in final

    CHELSEA have learned their route to the Conference League final after drawing Copenhagen in the last 16.The Blues sealed their spot in the knockout stage of the competition after an incredible group stage run.Chelsea have discovered their route to the Conference League finalCredit: ReutersChelsea finished top of the pile with six wins from as many games.But they have now been handed a tricky last 16 tie against Copenhagen, who are among the highest-ranked sides left in the Conference League.The first leg will take place on March 6, with the second occurring a week later on March 13.Should the Blues get past the Danes, they will then face either Molde or Legia Warsaw in the quarters.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe first leg of that tie takes place on April 10, with the second on April 17.There are then four potential sides awaiting in the semis, with Pafos, Djurgarden, Borac and Rapid Vienna all hoping for the chance to cause an upset.The dates for the semis are May 1 and May 8,While in the final, which takes place on May 28 in Wroclaw, Chelsea could take on Real Betis.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThe Spaniards are enjoying a resurgence after signing flop winger Antony on loan from Manchester United.He already has several goals to his name and will be keen to impress against an English side.Humble Nicolas Jackson snubs mega-money supercars as he leaves Chelsea training in £30,000 Fiat 500 Europa Conference League draw in fullLast 16 (March 6 & 13)Jagiellonia vs Cercle BruggeMolde vs Legia WarsawCelje vs LuganoPafos vs DjurgadenPanathinaikos vs FiorentinaBorac vs Rapid ViennaReal Betis vs VitoriaCopenhagen vs CHELSEAQuarter-finals (April 10 & 17)QF 1: Real Betis or Vitoria vs Jagiellonia or Cercle BruggeQF 2: Celje or Lugano vs Panathinaikos or FiorentinaQF 3: Copenhagen or CHELSEA vs Molde or Legia WarsawQF 4: Pafos or Djurgaden vs Borac or Rapid ViennaSemi finals (May 1 & 8)SF1: QF 1 winner vs QF 2 winnerSF 2: QF 3 winner vs Q 4 winnerFinal (May 28)SF1 winner vs SF2 winnerOther teams on Betis’ side of the draw include Panathinaikos and Cercle Brugge.Chelsea have also avoided Italians Fiorentina, who lost the last two Conference League finals to West Ham and Olympiacos.Chelsea will now be gearing themselves up to go and win the competition.Victory in the Conference League would see the Blues become the first side in history to lift all three major European trophies.Their squad has been strengthened by the registration of Cole Palmer, who was left out of the group stage.Trevoh Chalobah and Mathis Amougou were also added to the side.But Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia will play no part after being left out due to their injury woes.Chelsea’s record in Conference League 24/25QualifierChelsea 2 Servette 0Servette 2 Chelsea 1Chelsea’s group stage resultsChelsea 4 Gent 2Panathinaikos 1 Chelsea 4Chelsea 8 Noah 0Heidenheim 0 Chelsea 2Astana 1 Chelsea 3Chelsea 5 Shamrock Rovers 1P6 W6 D0 L0 GF 26 GA 5 GD21 Pts18Top scorers (inc. qualifier)Christopher Nkunku: 7Marcu Guiu: 6Joao Felix: 4Mykhailo Mudryk: 3Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 2Renato Veiga: 2Pedro Neto: 1Noni Madueke: 1Marc Cucurella: 1Tosin Adarabioyo: 1Axel Disasi: 1 More

  • in

    Fixtures added to Dream Team as European round of 16 ties confirmed for Premier League clubs

    THE six Premier League clubs still active in Europe now know their round of 16 opponents.Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa will participate in the Champions League knockout stage in March while Tottenham and Manchester United are set to resume their Europa League campaigns – Chelsea remain favourites to win the Conference League.Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa will resume their Champions League campaigns in MarchCredit: ReutersThe European competitions always have a significant bearing on Dream Team and managers should target these fixtures in the near future.CHAMPIONS LEAGUEPSG v LiverpoolPSV Eindhoven v ArsenalClun Brugge v Aston VillaArne Slot’s reward for topping the league phase is meeting with the best team in France – Ousmane Dembele and company beat Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the play-offs.The Gunners will face the current Dutch champions, who edged out Juventus in the play-offs.PSV have won just one of their six league games since the turn of the year.Unai Emery will be quietly confident after the Villains were drawn against the team that finished 24th in the league phase, although Club Brugge did bear Villa 1-0 in Belgium back in November.Liverpool and Aston Villa will meet in the quarter-finals if both sides progress beyond the last 16.Most read in FootballIf Arsenal get past PSV, they will play the winners of Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid.SEE THE FULL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 DRAW HERE.Liverpool are due to face PSGCredit: ReutersEUROPA LEAGUEAZ Alkmaar v TottenhamReal Sociedad v Manchester UnitedLike their North London rivals, Spurs have been drawn against Dutch opposition.AZ lost to Ange Postecoglou’s side in North London in late October and ultimately finished 19th in the league phase.The Red Devils’ goal-shy opponents are currently 11th in La Liga having lost four of their last five league games.At the risk of getting far too ahead of the game, Spurs and Man United wouldn’t meet until the final…SEE THE FULL EUROPA LEAGUE AND CONFERENCE LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 DRAWS HERE.CONFERENCE LEAGUEChelsea v CopenhagenChelsea are favourites to win the Conference LeagueCredit: PAAll the last 16 first legs will take place in Gameweek 26 with the second legs to follow in Gameweek 27.Consequently, Aston Villa and Man United will be the only teams to fulfil two fixtures in Gameweek 26; the Villains will also host Cardiff in the FA Cup fifth round while the Red Devils will welcome Fulham to Old Trafford in the same competition.All six clubs will then double up in Gameweek 27 as the second legs of the European ties will follow a full round of league fixtures.GAMEWEEK 27 DOUBLE HEADERSLIVERPOOL vs Southampton & PSGARSENAL vs Manchester United & PSVASTON VILLA vs Brentford & Club BruggeTOTTENHAM vs Bournemouth & AZ AlkmaarMANCHESTER UNITED vs Arsenal & Real SociedadCHELSEA vs Leicester & CopenhagenREAD MORE SUN STORIESPalmer is now available for selection in EuropeCredit: PAIt’s worth noting that Cole Palmer has been added to the Blues’ Conference League squad for the knockout phase.The England international wasn’t included in Enzo Maresca’s squad for the league phase of the competition with the Italian tactician citing “load management” but it seems Dream Team’s leading midfielder will have a part to play on Thursday nights going forward.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

  • in

    When is the Europa Conference League draw? EXACT start time, TV channel, Stream FREE as Chelsea learn opponents TODAY

    CHELSEA will learn their Europa Conference League opponents TODAY!The Champions League draw and Europa League draws also take place, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United among the British teams learning their fates.Chelsea learn their Conference League opponents and what side of the draw they are on TODAYCredit: PAIn the Champions League, Arsenal were handed a decent draw against PSV – but it means they will face the winner of Real Madrid vs Atletico in the quarter-finals.United and Tottenham are learning their opponents now.Chelsea are the heavy favourites to win the Conference League and made very light work of the group phase.Enzo Maresca’s team won all six of their matches – scoring 26 and conceding just five in the process.That was despite the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson not playing any minutes in the tournament.When is the Europa Conference League draw?The draw takes place on Friday, February 21.It will start at 1pm UK (1pm CET).It will take place after the Europa League draw in Nyon, Switzerland.What TV channel is the Europa Conference League draw?UK viewers will be able to watch the draw on TNT Sports 1.Most read in FootballHow can I watch the Europa Conference League draw for FREE?Who can Chelsea face in the Europa Conference League draw?The draw is already partially complete, with Chelsea knowing they can only face one of two teams.What is also to be decided is which side of the draw the Blues will end up on.The two potential opponents are either Real Betis of Copenhagen. More

  • in

    Man Utd, Tottenham and Chelsea learn who they could face as Europa League and Conference League last-16s are confirmed

    MANCHESTER UNITED, Tottenham and Chelsea are all closer to knowing who they will face in the next round of their respective European competitions.The Premier League trio all booked their spots in the last 16 of either the Europa League or the Conference League thanks to their efforts in the new fangled league phase.Manchester United know who they could face in the last 16 of the Europa LeagueCredit: AFPTottenham have also learned their fate in the competitionCredit: AlamyChelsea now know the two sides that could take on in the Conference League last 16Credit: GettyMan Utd and Spurs both finished in the top eight of the Europa League league phase and, as a result, bypassed the need to participate in a play-off round to reach the last 16 proper.Instead they have been awaiting their opponents in the next round, with one of the winners from the play-offs set to face off against each side.Thanks to United and Spurs finishing alongside each other – third and fourth respectively – they will be seeded on opposite sides of Friday’s draw.That means they have known for some time now that they would each take on one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd following the conclusion the play-off round, those four potential opponents have been narrowed down to just two – AZ Alkmaar and Real Sociedad.Dutch side AZ Alkmaar thrashed Galatasaray 6-3 on aggregate to book their spot in the last 16, while Real Sociedad were pushed hard over two legs against Midtjyland but ultimately ran away with it 7-3.That means that Spurs and United will each be drawn against one of Sociedad and Alkmaar.For example, if Spurs draw Sociedad then United will take on AZ Alkmaar. The Prem rivals CANNOT play each other.Most read in FootballAZ Alkmaar dominated Galatasaray over two legsCredit: GettyReal Sociedad celebrates got the better of FC Midtjylland tooCredit: GettyEuropa League tiesA look at the potential Europa League ties ahead of the draw…AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd/TottenhamReal Socieded vs Man Utd/TottenhamViktoria Plzen vs Lazio/Athletic BilbaoAS Roma vs Lazio/Athletic BilbaoBodo Glimt vs Olympiacos/RangersFenerbahce vs Olympiacos/RangersAjax vs Eintracht Frankfurt/LyonFCSB vs Eintracht Frankfurt/LyonCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd as a result of finishing third and fourth, Man Utd and Spurs will not meet in this year’s competition unless both teams reach the final.Tottenham have already gotten the better of AZ Alkmaar once this season, beating them 1-0 during the league phase of the competition.Champions League and Euros winner Alvaro Morata gets humbled as fans of his new club don’t seem to have a clue who he isA second half penalty from Richarlison proved to be the difference between the two sides back in October as Alkmaar had a man sent off in the late stages.Rangers, meanwhile, will face either Bodo/Glimt or Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.Whichever team is not drawn against Rangers will take on Olympiacos.The draw to find out who faces who will take place in Switzerland on Friday.That’s where Chelsea will also learn their fate too, as they await their last 16 opponents after topping the Conference League table with a flawless league phase campaign.FC Copenhagen’s 4-3 aggregate win over Heidenheim and Real Betis’ two-legged victory over Gent, means it’ll be one of Betis or Copenhagen who face the tough task of taking on the Londoners in the next round.Whoever isn’t drawn to face Chelsea will take on Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes.READ MORE SUN STORIESA tie with Betis would mean Chelsea would have to deal with in-form Antony, who sealed a loan to the La Liga club in January and has been scoring for fun since.As the seeded teams, Chelsea, Man Utd and Spurs will contest the away leg of their round of 16 tie on March 6, with the reverse fixtures in England scheduled for March 13.Conference League tiesA look at the potential Conference League ties ahead of the draw…Real Betis vs Chelsea/Victoria S.CFC Copenhagen vs Jagiellonia Bialystok vs Leiga/Cercle BruggeMolde vs Leiga/Cercle BruggeCelje vs Djurgarden/LuganoPafos vs Djurgarden/LuganoPanathinaikos vs Fiorentina/Rapid WienBorac Banja Luka vs Fiorentina/Rapid WienChelsea could face Antony’s Real BetisCredit: GettyDanish side FC. Copenhagen are their other potential opponentsCredit: Getty More