Nice, the only French club still in contention in Europe has the opportunity to continue its European journey. To achieve this, the Aiglons will have to maintain their lead over Sheriff Tiraspol in the return match this Thursday, March 16 on the sidelines of the knockout stages of the Europa League Conference.
The only French survivor in Europe, theOGC Nice, was declared winner of the first leg in Moldova 1-0 against Sheriff Tiraspol. The Aiglons will be able to this evening, if successful, join the final eight of the Europa League Conference. And Jean-Clair Todibo, one of the Gym’s in-form men, thinks he can offer the supporters a pleasant match. “Compared to the first leg, we will have a better ground on which we will be able to express ourselves much better”. Because indeed, this OGC Nice is very attractive since the arrival of Didier Digard who still has not lost. The Niçois could nevertheless be disturbed by the absence of their coach on the bench because the latter does not have the Pro UEFA or collective license necessary in the eyes of the European authorities to practice in the mixed zone. He will however be in the stands and it is Julien Sablé, his assistant who will enlist for 90 minutes or more, this role.
Among the other posters, La Gantoise largely won the double confrontation against Basaksehir (5-2). This is the first team qualified for the quarter-finals. The other matches will take place tonight with Lazio who were surprised last week at home. In the Netherlands against AZ Alkmaar, the Romans will have a lot to do like Larnaca who will try to surprise West Ham. Lech Poznan reassured themselves in the first leg by winning 2-0 against Djugardens. The other, tighter matches are still quite uncertain.
Seven teams have yet to validate their ticket for the quarter-finals of the Europa League Conference and thus join the La Gantoise club which qualified on Wednesday March 15.
- Djugardens – Lech Poznan: 6:45 p.m.
- Sivasspor-Fiorentina: 6:45 p.m.
- Slovan Bratislava – FC Basel: 6:45 p.m.
- Villarreal-Anderlecht: 9 p.m.
- West Ham-Larnaca: 9 p.m.
- OGC Nice – Sheriff Tiraspol: 9 p.m.
- AZ Alkmaar-Lazio: 9 p.m.
- Basaksehir – Gent: 1-4 (the match was played on Wednesday March 15)
The results of the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League Conference have fallen and Nice is saving the image of the French Championship in Europe with its 1-0 victory over the Sheriff.
- Larnaca-West Ham: 0-2
- Anderlecht-Villarreal: 1-1
- Sheriff Tiraspol – OGC Nice: 0-1
- Fiorentina-Sivasspor: 1-0
- Lech Poznan – Djugardens: 2-0
- FC Basel – Slovan Bratislava: 2-2
- Gent – Basaksehir: 5-2 (aggregate score)
- Lazio – AZ Alkmaar: 1-2 (match played on Tuesday March 7)
Canal + Football owns the majority of the rights to this competition. The only French team still in Europe, W9 will broadcast the match between Nice and Sheriff Tiraspol.
The group stage of the Europa League Football Conference is played from Thursday September 8, 2022 to Thursday November 3, 2022 while the knockout stage will be played from Thursday February 16, 2023 to Thursday May 18, 2023. As for the final, it is scheduled for June 7, 2023 at the Eden Arena in Prague (Czech Republic). The calendar was then drawn up as follows by UEFA:
- Direct elimination
- Knockout stage play-offs: February 16 and 23, 2023
- Round of 16: March 9 and 16, 2023
- Quarter-finals: April 13 and 20, 2023
- Semi-finals: May 11 and 18, 2023
- Final: June 7, 2023 at the Eden Arena in Prague (Czech Republic)
As last season, UEFA has awarded the French TV rights for the 2022/2023 Europa League Conference to RMC Sport, M6 And Canal+ which will ensure the broadcast until the end of the 2023/2024 season. Canal + will co-broadcast with M6 the poster for each Thursday and RMC Sport offers all the remaining matches. M6 will broadcast the final scheduled for June 7, 2023 in clear. During the 2024-2027 period, this is Canal + who bought the broadcasting rights.
The Europa League Conference 2021-2022 is the new European competition launched by UEFA and therefore the third international competition for European clubs after the Champions League and the Europa League. Its first edition was launched for the 2021-2022 season. It groups European teams according to their results in the league or in the national cup. The winner of the Europa League Conference qualifies for the Europa League the following year.
184 teams play in the competition throughout the season, including at least one from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations and 46 from the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League according to the UEFA website. ‘. The group stage consists of:
- 17 teams from the UEFA Europa Conference League main path
- 5 teams from the UEFA Europa Conference League Champions Path*
- 10 teams eliminated in the UEFA Europa League play-offs
A group phase (eight groups of four) is therefore organized before a knockout phase (round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final). The eight group winners qualify for the round of 16. A play-off is played between the eight runners-up and the teams that finish third in their UEFA Europa League group.