By Eden Roitfarb and Yossi Medina
The Europa Conference League group stage is now reaching its final stages - here’s the highlights from matchday four.
Alkmaar on the brink of elimination
In a battle of two tournament heavyweights, Aston Villa faced AZ Alkmaar in a crucial Group E matchup.
This game was made even more decisive after Legia Warsaw beat Zrijnski in the early slot.
AZ, last year’s semi-finalists, went ahead as Vangelos Pavlidis slotted past Emiliano Martinez after 52 minutes, looking to avenge their 4-1 hammering by Villa the last time the teams met.
However, you simply can’t count out an Unai Emery team in Europe, as Diego Carlos showed, netting his first goal for the club only nine minutes later.
A great moment for the Brazilian, who has recently suffered from a bit of bad injury luck.
Ten minutes from time, Ollie Watkins received a great ball from Douglas Luiz to complete the comeback and secure the win for Villa.
With only three points from four games, AZ are in a desperate situation, and would need to win both their remaining games to have any hope of qualification - and even that might not be enough.
G⚽️⚽️D MORNING. pic.twitter.com/smfO01DSLL
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 10, 2023
Viktoria Plzen at the top of the group
After no Czech team were able to reach the knockout stage last season, Viktoria Plzen has become the first to book their place in the round of 16 this year.
A goalless draw in the early match between FC Astana and Ballkani gave them a chance to do it.
Tomas Chory, who scored the winning goal last time they played Dinamo Zagreb, has done it again in front of his home crowd.
With another 1-0 win, Viktoria Plzen have clinched first place in Group C.
Viktoria Plzeň = only team to have a perfect record in the competition 💯
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) November 10, 2023
📸: @fcviktorkaplzen || #UECL pic.twitter.com/UDqNCzoWw8
Frankfurt and PAOK make it through
Another group picture that is now almost complete is Group G.
Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK confirmed their spot in the top two, and their last game will decide who will finish first.
Eintracht didn’t have any problems doing so, after winning 1-0 against HJK away.
PAOK didn’t have an easy job against Aberdeen in Greece, but their 2-2 draw was enough to secure their place in the next stage.
🥰 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔!
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@Eintracht) November 10, 2023
–––– #SGE | #HJKSGE 0:1 pic.twitter.com/oyiCpISBXL
Maccabi Tel Aviv secure an emotional win
After a month without football due to the tragic circumstances in Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv travelled to Poland to play Zorya in the derby of the teams that can’t host at their home countries.
Prior to the game, a minute's silence was held for the victims of the October 7th attack in Israel - an improvised seven seconds were marked by both teams just after kick-off too.
On the pitch, it didn’t seem for a moment that Robbie Keane’s boys hadn’t played for so long, as they easily took the lead - it was 3-0 before the first-half had ended - courtesy of two goals from Dor Peretz, who headed both from close range, and an outrageous backheel from Dutch defender Derrick Luckassen.
Zorya also provided sparks of attack, but were denied by a good performance from goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, who was making his debut between the sticks.
A consolation goal from Danylo Alefirenko made it 3-1.
Fenerbahce’s dream streak comes to an end
Turkish giants Fenerbahce opened their season by amassing an incredible 19 straight wins, including nine victories in the Conference League.
At the weekend, Trabzonspor spoiled the party in the league, and today Ludogorets did the same in Europe.
In the 18th minute, Jakub Piotrowski scored a wonderful goal from distance.
The visitors went into an all-out attack in the final minutes, leaving their defense exposed, as Rwan Cruz finished off a 92nd minute counter-attack to seal the deal.
It was 2-0 to the Bulgarians, as Group H now turns into a three horse race, along with FC Nordsjælland.
💪 Full time. Victory for Ludogorets with 2:0#ludogorets #fenerbahce #uecl pic.twitter.com/BRzXx7UV0x
— PFC Ludogorets 1945 (@Ludogorets1945) November 9, 2023
All equal in Hungary
Ferencvaros and Genk are making the race for qualification in Group F as tight as possible.
Two weeks ago in Belgium, they saw out a 0-0 draw.
Ferencvaros scored first tonight, just after half-time, but Genk equalized in the 62nd minute.
Except for Cukaricki, who have lost all their matches so far, all the other games in the three-way race between Fiorentina, Ferencvaros and Genk have ended in draws.
Whoever can grab a win first wil put themselves in pole position for the next stage of the competition.
