On a chilly Thursday night across Europe, the UEFA Europa Conference League delivered drama, upsets, and a shocking twist at the summit — all before most fans had finished their dinner. Samsunspor and Strasbourg emerged as surprise joint leaders, both with 10 points after Matchday 4, while Crystal Palace watched their automatic qualification hopes crumble with a 2-1 defeat. It wasn’t just a night of results — it was a reshuffling of the entire playoff landscape.
The Rise of the Underdogs
Who saw this coming? Samsunspor, a Turkish club that entered the competition through qualifying rounds, hadn’t even won a European fixture last season. Yet here they are: unbeaten in four matches, tied at the top with French side Strasbourg. Their 2-2 draw with Breidablik wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. Meanwhile, Strasbourg crushed Crystal Palace 2-1 in a match that felt like a statement. The Eagles had been sitting on six points, level with Fiorentina for the final automatic spot. Now? They’re down to six, and the race is tightening.
At the same time, Shakhtar Donetsk — the Ukrainian giants who’ve battled through war, exile, and rebuilding — climbed to fourth with a 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers. It was their first win in three games, and it snapped a three-way tie for third. Suddenly, they’re within striking distance of the top eight. The goal? A direct route to the Round of 16. No play-offs. No nerves. Just the spotlight.
The Shockers and the Slumps
Then there’s the fallout. Crystal Palace didn’t just lose — they lost to a team they were expected to beat. Strasbourg’s counterattacks were clinical. Palace’s midfield looked disjointed. Fans in London are already asking: Is this the end of their European dream? The answer? Maybe. With only two games left, they’re now in a five-team logjam for the final automatic spot.
Fiorentina didn’t escape unscathed either. Their 1-0 loss to AEK Athens was a gut punch. The Italian side, once considered a strong contender, now sits at seven points — behind not just Samsunspor and Strasbourg, but also Shakhtar Donetsk, Mainz 05, and Celje. All of them have nine. It’s a five-team brawl for the last two automatic berths.
And then there’s Rayo Vallecano. Their first defeat of the campaign — 2-1 at home to Slovan Bratislava — ended their perfect start. They’re now on seven points, and their path to the top eight is getting narrower by the week.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s break it down. The UEFA Europa Conference League has 36 teams. No byes. No automatic entries. Everyone fights through qualifying. That’s the point. And now, after four of six matchdays:
- Only two teams — Samsunspor and Strasbourg — have 10 points.
- Five teams — Shakhtar Donetsk, Celje, Mainz 05, Raków, and Universitatea Craiova — are tied at nine.
- Eight teams are on seven points or fewer, including Crystal Palace, Fiorentina, and Rayo Vallecano.
- Only one team — Raków — has won all four matches so far. The rest? Everyone’s vulnerable.
That’s the beauty — and the brutality — of this competition. One slip, and you’re out of the top eight. One win, and you’re back in. There’s no room for error. Not anymore.
What’s Next? The Final Push
The league phase doesn’t end until December 18, 2025 — a single matchday where all 18 games kick off simultaneously at 21:00 CET. That’s when the final standings will be locked in. The top eight go straight to the Round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th enter a two-legged play-off. The bottom 12? Done. No Europa League. No next season. Just a long winter.
Matchday 5 is December 11. That’s when Samsunspor hosts Rijeka, and Strasbourg travels to Drita. Both will be under pressure. Both will know: one slip, and the lead vanishes.
And then there’s Shakhtar Donetsk. Their next match? A home game against Lech Poznań. A win here could put them into the top five. A draw? They’re still in the thick of it. But with only two games left, every point matters more than ever.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about who qualifies. It’s about what the UEFA Europa Conference League represents. It’s the third tier. The underdog’s stage. The place where clubs from Iceland, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland get to play on the same pitch as teams from Italy, Spain, and Germany. And for the first time in years, it feels like a real competition — not a consolation prize.
When Samsunspor beat Häcken 2-1 on Matchday 2, no one noticed. Now? They’re the talk of Europe. When Shamrock Rovers held Shakhtar Donetsk to a draw in Dublin, fans thought they’d pulled off a miracle. They didn’t. But they didn’t lose, either. And that’s the point.
This tournament doesn’t need glitter. It needs grit. And this season? It’s delivering.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification work?
The top eight teams after six matchdays automatically qualify for the Round of 16. Teams finishing 9th to 24th enter a two-legged play-off, with the winners advancing. The bottom 12 teams (25th–36th) are eliminated from all European competition for the season. No team enters directly — all 36 must qualify through preliminary rounds.
Why are Samsunspor and Strasbourg leading the table?
Both teams have won three matches and drawn one, earning 10 points each. Samsunspor drew 2-2 with Breidablik but won their other three games, while Strasbourg won all four, including a crucial 2-1 away win over Crystal Palace. Their consistency — especially away from home — has been the key to their rise.
What’s at stake for Crystal Palace?
Crystal Palace’s 2-1 loss to Strasbourg dropped them to six points, putting them behind five teams in the race for the top eight. With only two games left, they must win both and hope others slip. A draw or loss in either match could eliminate them from automatic qualification, forcing them into the play-offs — a scenario they’re not favored to win.
How significant is Shakhtar Donetsk’s climb to fourth?
Shakhtar Donetsk’s 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers moved them to nine points, putting them in direct contention for an automatic spot. After years of displacement due to conflict in Ukraine, this run is more than football — it’s a symbol of resilience. A top-eight finish would guarantee them over €10 million in UEFA revenue and a return to the elite European stage.
When is the final matchday, and what makes it unique?
The final matchday is December 18, 2025, when all 18 games kick off simultaneously at 21:00 CET. This ensures fairness — no team can benefit from knowing other results. It’s the only time in the competition where every result is decided at once, creating maximum drama and unpredictability.
What happens to teams that finish below 24th?
Teams finishing 25th to 36th are eliminated from all European competitions for the season. They receive no further revenue, no Europa League pathway, and no international exposure. For smaller clubs, this can mean budget cuts, player sales, and a long rebuild. The stakes are higher than ever.