UEFA Conference League Reveals Quarter-Final Teams

Eight clubs have reached the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League. These quarter-final teams now aim for the final in Leipzig on 27 May.

UEFA coefficient rankings used here are accurate as of 20 March. The ties will be played across two legs on 9 and 16 April.

Matchups and key details

• Rayo Vallecano (ESP) vs AEK Athens (GRE). Rayo finished fifth in their domestic league. They progressed with a 3-2 aggregate win over Samsunspor.

  AEK finished third in their league. They beat Celje 4-2 on aggregate to reach the last eight.

• AZ Alkmaar (NED) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR). AZ sit 14th in their domestic table. They advanced after a 6-1 aggregate win over Sparta Praha, having also beaten Noah 4-1 in the knockout play-offs.

  Shakhtar finished sixth domestically. They edged Lech Poznań 4-3 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals.

• Crystal Palace (ENG) vs Fiorentina (ITA). Palace placed 10th in the league and beat AEK Larnaca 2-1 on aggregate. They also defeated Zrinjski 3-1 in the knockout play-offs.

  Fiorentina finished 15th domestically. They progressed with a 4-2 aggregate win over Raków and had earlier beaten Jagiellonia 5-4 across the play-off tie.

• Mainz (GER) vs Strasbourg (FRA). Mainz placed seventh and recorded a 2-0 aggregate victory over Sigma Olomouc. This is Mainz’s first deep run from a group stage in a UEFA competition.

  Strasbourg topped their group and overcame Rijeka 3-2 on aggregate. This quarter-final is a first-time spring advance in a UEFA competition since 2005/06.

Club notes and recent history

AEK Athens were founded in 1924 by Greek refugees. The club has claimed 13 domestic titles, most recently in 2022/23.

Rayo Vallecano come from the Madrid suburb of Vallecas. This is only their second European campaign, after the 2000/01 UEFA Cup run to the quarter-finals.

AZ Alkmaar represent Alkmaar and the Zaan region. The club has deep Dutch pedigree and reached the 1980/81 UEFA Cup final.

Shakhtar Donetsk are traditionally linked to the coal-mining Donbas region. They won the UEFA Cup in 2008/09 and have claimed 15 Ukrainian league titles since independence.

Crystal Palace hail from Croydon in south London. This is Palace’s second season in European competition, following a 1998 Intertoto Cup appearance.

Fiorentina have been Conference League finalists twice. They also won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1960/61 and hold two Italian league titles.

Mainz are known locally as the Karnevalsverein. The club plays a carnival tune, the Narrhallamarsch, when they score at home.

Strasbourg are from the Alsace region. Their youth-infused side returned to the spring phase of a UEFA competition for the first time since 2005/06.

Road to Leipzig

• Quarter-finals: first legs 9 April, second legs 16 April. Winners advance to the semi-finals.

• Semi-finals: 30 April and 7 May. The two victors will meet in the final in Leipzig.

• Final: 27 May in Leipzig. The tournament concludes with the champion crowned on that date.

This phase confirms which eight sides remain in contention. Filmogaz.com will follow each tie closely as the UEFA Conference League quarter-final teams chase continental silverware.