The Crucible of Champions
An in-depth academic exploration of the strategic and structural elements defining the ultimate phase of UEFA's third-tier club competition.
Understand the Journey 👇 Explore Rules 📜Dive in with Flashcard Learning!
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮
Introduction to the Knockout Phase
The Pinnacle of Competition
The 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League knockout phase represented the culminating stage of the tournament, commencing on 16 February with the knockout round play-offs and concluding on 7 June 2023 with the final. This decisive match, held at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, determined the ultimate champion of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. A total of 24 elite teams vied for the prestigious title in this phase.
Key Timelines and Locations
All match times were officially listed by UEFA in Central European Time (CET) or Central European Summer Time (CEST), with local times provided where they differed. The draws for each stage of the knockout phase were meticulously conducted at the UEFA headquarters located in Nyon, Switzerland, ensuring transparency and adherence to established regulations.
Qualified Teams
Pathway to the Knockout Stage
The knockout phase comprised 24 teams, each earning their place through distinct qualification routes. Sixteen teams advanced directly from the Europa Conference League group stage, consisting of the eight group winners and eight group runners-up. Additionally, eight teams joined from the Europa League group stage, having finished third in their respective groups.
Conference League Group Qualifiers
The following teams distinguished themselves in the Europa Conference League group stage, securing their progression to the knockout rounds:
| Group | Winners (advance to round of 16 and seeded in draw) |
Runners-up (advance to KO play-offs and seeded in draw) |
|---|---|---|
| A | İstanbul Başakşehir | Fiorentina |
| B | West Ham United | Anderlecht |
| C | Villarreal | Lech Poznań |
| D | Nice | Partizan |
| E | AZ | Dnipro-1 |
| F | Djurgårdens IF | Gent |
| G | Sivasspor | CFR Cluj |
| H | Slovan Bratislava | Basel |
Europa League Third-Placed Teams
Eight additional teams transitioned from the Europa League group stage, entering the Europa Conference League knockout phase as unseeded participants in the play-offs:
| Group | Third-placed teams (advance to KO play-offs and unseeded in draw) |
|---|---|
| A | Bodø/Glimt |
| B | AEK Larnaca |
| C | Ludogorets Razgrad |
| D | Braga |
| E | Sheriff Tiraspol |
| F | Lazio |
| G | Qarabağ |
| H | Trabzonspor |
Tournament Format
Tie-Breaking Regulations
Each tie in the knockout phase, excluding the final, was contested over two legs, with each participating team hosting one leg. The team accumulating a greater aggregate score across both legs advanced. In instances of a level aggregate score, an additional 30 minutes of extra time were played. Notably, the away goals rule was not applied during this phase. Should the score remain level after extra time, a penalty shoot-out determined the victor. For the final, a single match format, extra time and a subsequent penalty shoot-out would be employed if the score was tied at the end of normal regulation time.
Draw Mechanisms
The draws for each round adhered to specific protocols:
- Knockout Round Play-offs: The eight group runners-up from the Europa Conference League were seeded, while the eight third-placed teams from the Europa League group stage were unseeded. Seeded teams were drawn against unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg. Teams from the same national association were ineligible to be drawn against each other.
- Round of 16: The eight Europa Conference League group winners were seeded, and the eight winners from the knockout round play-offs were unseeded. Similar to the play-offs, seeded teams were drawn against unseeded teams, with seeded teams hosting the second leg. National association restrictions remained in effect.
- Quarter-finals and Semi-finals: These draws were conducted without any seeding, and teams from the same national association could be drawn against each other. Both draws were held concurrently before the quarter-finals commenced. An additional draw determined the "home" team for the final for administrative purposes, as the match was held at a neutral venue.
Scheduling Adjustments for City Conflicts
To mitigate logistical challenges and ensure effective crowd control, UEFA implemented specific scheduling adjustments for teams from the same or geographically proximate cities. This applied to pairings such as Roma and Lazio, Fenerbahçe and İstanbul Başakşehir, and Anderlecht and Union SG (who share a stadium). If such teams were drawn to play at home on the same day:
- For the knockout round play-offs and round of 16, the home match of the team with lower priority (e.g., not a domestic cup or Europa Conference League winner, or lower domestic ranking) was rescheduled from Thursday to Wednesday.
- For the quarter-finals and semi-finals, if both teams were scheduled to host a leg on the same day, the order of legs for the tie involving the team with the lowest priority was reversed from the initial draw.
Tournament Schedule
The following table outlines the key dates for the draws and match legs throughout the knockout phase:
| Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knockout round play-offs | 7 November 2022, 14:00 | 16 February 2023 | 23 February 2023 |
| Round of 16 | 24 February 2023, 13:00 | 9 March 2023 | 16 March 2023 |
| Quarter-finals | 17 March 2023, 14:00 | 13 April 2023 | 20 April 2023 |
| Semi-finals | 11 May 2023 | 18 May 2023 | |
| Final | 7 June 2023 at Fortuna Arena, Prague | ||
Tournament Bracket
The progression of teams through the knockout phase is illustrated in the following bracket, detailing the aggregate scores and outcomes of each tie:
| Knockout round play-offs | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bodø/Glimt | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lech Poznań | 0 | 1 | 1 | Lech Poznań | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Djurgårdens IF | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lech Poznań | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Braga | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiorentina (a.e.t.) | 4 | 2 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiorentina | 4 | 3 | 7 | Fiorentina | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sivasspor | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiorentina (a.e.t.) | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trabzonspor | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basel | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basel | 0 | 2 | 2 | Basel (p) | 2 | 2 | 4 (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slovan Bratislava | 2 | 2 | 4 (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basel (a.e.t.) | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 0 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nice | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Partizan | 1 | 1 | 2 | Sheriff Tiraspol | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 June – Prague | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nice | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiorentina | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qarabağ | 1 | 0 | 1 (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Ham United | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gent (p) | 0 | 1 | 1 (5) | Gent | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gent | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AEK Larnaca | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Ham United | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dnipro-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | AEK Larnaca | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Ham United | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Ham United | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ludogorets Razgrad | 1 | 1 | 2 (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AZ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anderlecht (p) | 0 | 2 | 2 (3) | Anderlecht | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Villarreal | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anderlecht | 2 | 0 | 2 (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lazio | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AZ (p) | 0 | 2 | 2 (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CFR Cluj | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lazio | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AZ | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Knockout Round Play-offs
The draw for the knockout round play-offs was conducted on 7 November 2022, at 14:00 CET. The first legs were played on 16 February, and the second legs on 23 February 2023.
Qarabağ vs Gent
Aggregate: 1–1 (Gent won 5–3 on penalties)
First Leg: Qarabağ 1–0 Gent
- Qarabağ: Andrade ⚽ 78'
Second Leg: Gent 1–0 Qarabağ (a.e.t.)
- Gent: Orban ⚽ 74'
Penalties:
- Gent: De Sart ✅, Cuypers ✅, Orban ✅, Marreh ✅, Van Daele ✅
- Qarabağ: Richard ✅, Diakhaby ✅, Bayramov ✅, Benzia ❌
Trabzonspor vs Basel
Aggregate: 1–2 (Basel won)
First Leg: Trabzonspor 1–0 Basel
- Trabzonspor: Stryger Larsen ⚽ 65'
Second Leg: Basel 2–0 Trabzonspor
- Basel: Amdouni ⚽ 13', Zeqiri ⚽ 76'
Lazio vs CFR Cluj
Aggregate: 1–0 (Lazio won)
First Leg: Lazio 1–0 CFR Cluj
- Lazio: Immobile ⚽ 45+4'
Second Leg: CFR Cluj 0–0 Lazio
Match Report (1st Leg) 🔗 Match Report (2nd Leg) 🔗Bodø/Glimt vs Lech Poznań
Aggregate: 0–1 (Lech Poznań won)
First Leg: Bodø/Glimt 0–0 Lech Poznań
Second Leg: Lech Poznań 1–0 Bodø/Glimt
- Lech Poznań: Ishak ⚽ 63'
Braga vs Fiorentina
Aggregate: 2–7 (Fiorentina won)
First Leg: Braga 0–4 Fiorentina
- Fiorentina: Jović ⚽ 45+1', 60', Cabral ⚽ 79', 90'
Second Leg: Fiorentina 3–2 Braga
- Fiorentina: Mandragora ⚽ 37', Saponara ⚽ 58', Cabral ⚽ 83'
- Braga: Castro ⚽ 16', Djaló ⚽ 34'
AEK Larnaca vs Dnipro-1
Aggregate: 1–0 (AEK Larnaca won)
First Leg: AEK Larnaca 1–0 Dnipro-1
- AEK Larnaca: García ⚽ 84'
Second Leg: Dnipro-1 0–0 AEK Larnaca
Match Report (1st Leg) 🔗 Match Report (2nd Leg) 🔗Sheriff Tiraspol vs Partizan
Aggregate: 3–2 (Sheriff Tiraspol won)
First Leg: Sheriff Tiraspol 0–1 Partizan
- Partizan: Gomes ⚽ 45'
Second Leg: Partizan 1–3 Sheriff Tiraspol
- Partizan: Menig ⚽ 13'
- Sheriff Tiraspol: Badolo ⚽ 22' (pen.), Diop ⚽ 45+1', 47'
Ludogorets Razgrad vs Anderlecht
Aggregate: 2–2 (Anderlecht won 3–0 on penalties)
First Leg: Ludogorets Razgrad 1–0 Anderlecht
- Ludogorets Razgrad: Thiago ⚽ 9'
Second Leg: Anderlecht 2–1 Ludogorets Razgrad (a.e.t.)
- Anderlecht: Russo ⚽ 13' (o.g.), Verschaeren ⚽ 68'
- Ludogorets Razgrad: Thiago ⚽ 71'
Penalties:
- Anderlecht: Refaelov ✅, Vertonghen ✅, Verschaeren ✅
- Ludogorets Razgrad: Pipa ❌, Yankov ❌, Naressi ❌
Round of 16
The draw for the round of 16 took place on 24 February 2023, at 13:00 CET. The first legs were contested on 7 and 9 March, with the second legs following on 15 and 16 March 2023.
AEK Larnaca vs West Ham United
Aggregate: 0–6 (West Ham United won)
First Leg: AEK Larnaca 0–2 West Ham United
Second Leg: West Ham United 4–0 AEK Larnaca
Fiorentina vs Sivasspor
Aggregate: 5–1 (Fiorentina won)
First Leg: Fiorentina 1–0 Sivasspor
Second Leg: Sivasspor 1–4 Fiorentina
Lazio vs AZ Alkmaar
Aggregate: 2–4 (AZ Alkmaar won)
First Leg: Lazio 1–2 AZ Alkmaar
Second Leg: AZ Alkmaar 2–1 Lazio
Lech Poznań vs Djurgårdens IF
Aggregate: 5–0 (Lech Poznań won)
First Leg: Lech Poznań 2–0 Djurgårdens IF
Second Leg: Djurgårdens IF 0–3 Lech Poznań
Basel vs Slovan Bratislava
Aggregate: 4–4 (Basel won 4–1 on penalties)
First Leg: Basel 2–2 Slovan Bratislava
Second Leg: Slovan Bratislava 2–2 Basel (a.e.t.)
Sheriff Tiraspol vs Nice
Aggregate: 1–4 (Nice won)
First Leg: Sheriff Tiraspol 0–1 Nice
Second Leg: Nice 3–1 Sheriff Tiraspol
Anderlecht vs Villarreal
Aggregate: 2–1 (Anderlecht won)
First Leg: Anderlecht 1–1 Villarreal
Second Leg: Villarreal 0–1 Anderlecht
Gent vs İstanbul Başakşehir
Aggregate: 2–5 (İstanbul Başakşehir won)
First Leg: Gent 1–1 İstanbul Başakşehir
Second Leg: İstanbul Başakşehir 4–1 Gent
Teacher's Corner
Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Click here to open the "2022 U201323 Uefa Europa Conference League Knockout Phase" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit
Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.
True or False?
Test Your Knowledge!
Gamer's Corner
Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!
Play now
References
References
Feedback & Support
To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.
Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not official UEFA information. The details provided on this website regarding match schedules, results, and regulations are for general understanding and should not be considered official. Always refer to the official UEFA website or other authoritative sports news sources for the most current and accurate information regarding football tournaments. Never make decisions based solely on information presented here without cross-referencing official channels.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.