Thanks to former manager Mauricio Pochettino, now in charge of the USA men’s national team, Chelsea finished 6th in the EPL last season, which earned them a spot in the newly reformed UEFA Conference League.

Under new manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues took this opportunity and turned it into reality by winning a two-legged play-off against another European club that had just lost in the Europa League third-round qualifiers.

Before diving into Chelsea’s journey to the UEFA Conference League, let’s look at the history of this competition and what changes mean for the London-based club.

UEFA Conference League: Tournament History:

The UEFA Europa Conference League was introduced in 2021/22 as the third UEFA men’s football club competition. It aims to make continental football more inclusive by involving a wider range of associations.

The tournament runs on Thursday nights alongside the UEFA Europa League, featuring over 170 teams throughout the season, including at least one from each UEFA association.

Previous winners include Roma (2022), West Ham United (2023), and Olympiacos (2024). This season, the competition has been renamed the UEFA Conference League.

What is the New Format?

The 2024/25 season brings significant changes to the Conference League. The group stage has been replaced by a single 36-team league, where each side faces six different teams (three at home, three away).

The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while those finishing ninth to 24th enter a knockout play-off round for a spot among the final 16. All knockout ties are played over two legs.

How Did Chelsea Qualify for the UECL Draw?

Chelsea's entry into the UEFA Conference League marks a new chapter in their European journey. After missing out on the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, they had to win a play-off round against Swiss side Servette, who had lost to Braga in a Europa League play-off.

Chelsea secured their spot in the league phase with a narrow 3-2 aggregate victory. Christopher Nkunku's penalties in both legs and Noni Madueke’s goal at Stamford Bridge sealed their qualification. As the highest-ranked team in the competition, Chelsea was placed in Pot 1 for the league phase draw.

Analysis of the Draw:

Chelsea will face six different teams in their first Conference League campaign. The Blues were drawn against Gent (Belgium) at home, Heidenheim (Germany) away, Astana (Kazakhstan) away, Shamrock Rovers (Republic of Ireland) at home, Panathinaikos (Greece) away, and Noah (Armenia) at home.

While Chelsea has faced teams from Belgium, Germany, and Greece before, this will be their first competitive meeting with clubs from Kazakhstan, the Republic of Ireland, and Armenia.

Gent and Panathinaikos could present a tougher challenge, whereas matches against Shamrock Rovers and Noah might offer opportunities for squad rotation.

The draw for the group stage took place yesterday and pitted Chelsea at home to Gent, Shamrock Rovers and FC Noah. Our away matches take place against Heidenheim, FC Astana and Panathinaikos.

Chelsea’s Confirmed UEFA Conference League Fixtures:

UEFA have since confirmed the dates and UK kick-off times for each fixture, which are as follows...

Thursday, 3 October

Chelsea vs Gent

Kick-off: 8pm

 

Thursday, 24 October

Panathinaikos vs Chelsea

Kick-off: 5.45pm

 

Thursday, 7 November

Chelsea vs FC Noah

Kick-off: 8pm

Thursday, 28 November

Heidenheim vs Chelsea

Kick-off: 5.45pm

 

Thursday, 12 December

FC Astana vs Chelsea

Kick-off: 3.30pm

 

Thursday, 19 December

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers

Kick-off: 8pm.

Chelsea's Chances of Progression:

Chelsea’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages appear promising. As the top-most-ranked team with substantial European experience and a deep squad, the Blues are favourites to progress from the league phase.

Key players like Cole Palmer and Nicholas Jackson, both of whom saw their Chelsea contracts extended recently, and Noni Madueke, have already shown their importance with their stellar performances for Chelsea already this season.

However, with the news of Cole Palmer being dropped from Chelsea’s squad for the UEFA Conference League, manager Enzo Maresca, will have to find a way to not only field a strong team without the English star but settle on a tactical approach that will Chelsea handle the diverse styles they will encounter in these away grounds.

However, complacency could be dangerous. Away fixtures, especially against teams like Astana and Heidenheim, could pose challenges due to unfamiliar environments and local conditions.

Conclusion:

Chelsea's journey in the UEFA Conference League promises excitement and opportunity. With a favourable draw and a strong squad, they have a good chance to progress and possibly win the competition.

Success in the Conference League would add a European trophy to Chelsea’s collection and set a strong foundation under Enzo Maresca’s leadership. The upcoming matches will be crucial in defining the season, and fans are eager to see how the team performs on this new stage.

 

You can check out and bet on Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League games here on MSport.

As Borussia Dortmund embark on another UEFA Champions League journey, the stakes are high for the club that reached the final last season. This year's tournament introduces a new format, adding an extra layer of complexity to Dortmund's path.

With eight different opponents drawn from across Europe only in the first round and potentially another in a play-off, Dortmund faces a challenging yet intriguing campaign. Can last season’s finalists navigate this new terrain and reach the knockout stages once again?

Dortmund and The UCL:

Borussia Dortmund have a storied history in the UEFA Champions League, including a memorable victory in the 1996/97 season. More recently, the club has experienced mixed results, with highs such as last season’s run to the final and lows like group-stage exits in 2017/18 and 2021/22.

Over the past decade, Dortmund has reached the quarter-finals three times and progressed to the Round of 16 five times. Despite their fluctuations, Dortmund has consistently been a force in Europe, relying on their attacking prowess and passionate fan base.

Dortmund's UCL Stars:

Key players have defined Dortmund’s UCL campaigns over the years. Marco Reus, the club's talisman, leads the pack with 72 UCL appearances and 24 goals, making him Dortmund’s top scorer in the competition. He is followed by Robert Lewandowski with 17 goals and Erling Haaland and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, both with 15 goals.

Mats Hummels, another veteran, has 66 appearances, showcasing his experience in European football. These players have been instrumental in shaping Dortmund’s UCL identity, combining skill, leadership, and consistency on the biggest stage.

Dortmund's Crazy Games:

This season, the Champions League has shifted to a new format, transitioning from traditional groups to a ‘League Phase.’ Dortmund will play eight different opponents, one match against each. Drawn against European giants Barcelona and Real Madrid from Pot 1, Dortmund will host Barcelona and travel to Madrid.

Pot 2 draws pit them against Shakhtar Donetsk at home and Club Brugge away. From Pot 3, they will face Celtic at home and travel to Zagreb, while Pot 4 fixtures include a home game against Sturm Graz and an away tie with FC Bologna.

The diversity of this schedule means Dortmund will face a mix of elite, mid-tier, and lower-ranked teams. Hosting Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk offers opportunities to capitalize on home advantage, while away trips to Real Madrid and other challenging venues test their resilience.

Dortmund’s performances across these fixtures will determine their place in the standings, with the top 8 advancing directly to the Round of 16. Teams finishing 9th to 24th will enter a ‘play-in’ round, underlining the importance of securing points in every match.

Likelihood of Progression:

The revamped format increases the chances of progression, with 24 of 36 teams moving into the knockout phase. However, Dortmund’s draw presents both opportunities and challenges.

Securing points at home against Barcelona and Celtic is crucial, as is winning against lower-ranked teams like Sturm Graz. Away fixtures at Real Madrid, current champions, and Zagreb are potential stumbling blocks.

Dortmund's ability to adapt to different styles of play and maintain consistency will be key to avoiding the pitfalls of a play-off round just to secure qualification to the next round as it would mean they are part of the first eight teams on the league table.

What History Predicts for Dortmund:

Historically, Dortmund have excelled in the next season’s UEFA Champions League after reaching the finals of the previous one just as they did in the 2023/2024 season.

Dortmund made the finals of the UCL in 96/97 and 12/13 and during both times, the Black and Yellows managed to make the semi-finals and quarter-finals respectively. This should be a reason for their fans to be hopeful of an impressive showing in this new format.

Conclusion:

Dortmund's UEFA Champions League campaign is poised on a knife edge. The new league-style format, with its varied opponents, demands adaptability and resilience. 

Dortmund’s team has lost some of its most seasoned stars, in Reus and Hummels, along with the man manager who took them to the final last season, Edin Terzic, and without these core personalities, the German club will need new leaders and heroes.

While the road to the final is fraught with challenges, Dortmund’s rich history and attacking flair give them the tools to not just survive but potentially thrive in this new UCL landscape led by their young stars and a former player in Nurin Sahin.

 

You can follow and bet the UEFA Champions League games MSport here.