The Conference League is now the Blues’ only realistic chance of winning a trophy this season. Chelsea are waiting to learn their potential route to the Europa Conference League final at the end of the season, with the draw for the next rounds of the competition taking place on 21 February. What started off as a brilliant campaign for the Blues has quickly tailed off into a mixed run of form that has seen them drop out of both domestic cup competitions as well as the Premier League top four.
Nevertheless, their form in Europe has been imperious, with Enzo Maresca’s side winning all six of their league phase games and scoring 26 goals in the process. Victory in this competition is now Chelsea’s last chance at a trophy this season, and it is one that they will certainly try to take advantage of, with a place in next season’s Europa League up for grabs alongside the chance to be the first side to win all three of Uefa’s main competitions.
Chelsea finished first in the league phase and therefore were given first seed for the knockout rounds. They were paired with second-placed Vitoria SC, and these two sides will then face one of winners of the ties between the 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th-placed sides. Those ties are Gent vs Real Betis, with the Spaniards 3-0 up after the first leg, and FC Copenhagen vs FC Heidenheim, with the tie finely balance after the Bundesliga side grabbed a 2-1 lead after the first leg.
The second legs of the Conference League play-off ties takes place on Thursday, 20 February. Once the results are in, Chelsea will have narrowed down their potential last-16 opponents to two sides – in other words, the winners of each tie mentioned above. The draw for the round of 16 then takes place on February 21 at around 1pm GMT. The Conference League round of 16 takes place across 6 and 13 March. As the seeded team, Chelsea will be at home in the second leg in principle.
Gent or Real Betis - to play Chelsea or Vitoria SC in last 16. TSC Backa Topola vs Jagellonia - to play Legia Warsaw or Cercle Brugge in last 16. Celje vs Apoel - to play Djurgardens or Lugano in last 16. Víkingur vs Panathinaikos - to play Fiorentina or Rapid Wien in last 16. FC Copenhagen vs FC Heidenheim - to play Chelsea or Vitoria SC in last 16. Molde vs Shamrock Rovers - to play Legia Warsaw or Cercle Brugge in last 16.
