Favourites advance in the early games
2 - Rakow Czestochowa's European season is over as they lost 2-1 to Fiorentina for the second week in a row. The Poles led at home, but conceded 22 minutes from time, forcing them to chase the tie. Unfortunately for them, Marin Pongracic scored with the last kick of the game to seal their fate. This result marked just the second time in European play in which Rakow scored at home but did not win.
3 - Fiorentina have made it a habit of going deep in the Conference League, as La Viola are back in the last eight for the fourth year running. An Italian team have reached at least the semis of the tournament in each of its first four editions, something Paolo Vanoli's men will look to achieve once more. Interestingly enough, Fiore have won both legs of a UECL knockout round tie for just the third time - the other two occasions coming three years ago.
20 - Also progressing to the quarters are Mainz, who are enjoying their best-ever run in a UEFA club competition. The Germans knocked off Sigma Olomouc 2-0 at home, which also turned out to be the aggregate score. Stefan Posch and Armindo Sieb were the goal scorers as the Czechs ended the match with 10 men. Mainz have now kept five clean sheets in Europe this term, something they also did 20 years ago in the UEFA Cup.
10 - Sigma's journey in Europe is over, and what an eventful run it was. From nearly being eliminated at the league phase to making the last 16, the Czech outfit experienced it all. However, that has all come to an end in what was their first defeat to a German side in a major European competition. They now have the task of trying to return to continental play through their domestic play. Their away form has not been great in Europe, though, as they have conceded in their last 10 road matches.
28 - AEK Athens were one of three teams to advance to the last eight despite losing on the night. The Greeks were tested by a spirited Celje team, but despite falling 2-0 to the Slovenians at home, Dikefalos advanced 4-2 across the two legs. They become the third club from their country to make the UECL quarter-finals. The last team that did so went all the way - something they will hope to mimic. AEK last reached a quarter-final in Europe 28 years ago in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup.
5 - Celje depart the continental scene one round earlier than last term, when they pulled off some stunning results to make it to the last eight. They can hold their heads high, going out with a solid performance and a victory. Historically, the Slovenian outfit have not had much success on their travels. That has changed in the 2025/26 campaign, where Thursday saw them collect their fifth road win in Europe.
4 - AEK Larnaca, who conceded just one during the league phase, could not keep up the unexpected results versus Crystal Palace. The Cypriots forced extra time at home, where they succumbed 2-1 to the heavily-favoured Eagles. It marked the second time that their UECL journey concludes at this stage, with West Ham knocking them out at this stage three years ago. The team from Larnaca have failed to win any of their four games at this stage of a UEFA club competition (0-1-3).
29 - Palace had to huff and puff for that win, with most of the match being played in Larnaca's defensive third. In the end, Ismaila Sarr's goal in the ninth minute of extra time did the trick for the Londoners, who made the quarter-finals in their continental bow. It was a deserved win in the end for Palace, especially considering the fact that they had a whopping 29 shots in the 120 minutes of play.
Shakhtar, Rayo hold on
11 - Just as they did at the beginning of the millennium, Rayo Vallecano are through to a European quarter-final. They did suffer a loss on the night, though, with Samsunspor winning 1-0 in Madrid. But, Los Franjirrojos prevailed 3-2 across the two legs. Rayo matched their UEFA Cup performance in 2000/01, when fellow Spanish side Deportivo Alaves took them out in the last eight. A quarter century later, they are back. They did lose at home in Europe for the first time in their 11th match.
6 - Samsunspor's debut campaign in European football comes to an end, and what a run it has been for them. The Turkish side entered at the play-off round stage of the Europa League last August and departed having gotten past the league phase and the knockout round play-offs. They are in the running to qualify for Europe in the league once more, which could see them get a second crack next summer. Kirmizi Simsekler kept a sixth clean sheet in their win.
7 - One of the sides left to have won a UEFA club competition, Shakhtar Donetsk, have managed to hold off Lech Poznan. The PItmen fell 2-1 in Krakow, but that was still enough for them to advance 4-3. It marks a sixth appearance in a continental quarter-final for Shakhtar, six years on from their last one. However, it is a second defeat to a Polish team, with the Ukrainians conceding seven times in those games.
15 - Lech were in the running to make a second showing in the last eight of the UECL. But they could not get a third goal to potentially send the match into extra time. Kolejorz will instead be watching from home for the rest of the tournament, reflecting on what could have been. It was not without effort through. After all, Lech had 15 attempts in the whole match, five more than their opponents.
16 - Much more was expected from Sparta Praha in their tie against AZ Alkmaar. However, the Czech club did not deliver, instead losing 4-0 at home to the Eredivisie outfit. That spelt their elimination, with the aggregate score being 6-1. There will certainly be disappointment for Rudi and their fans, given the opportunity they had. It was the third time they failed to score against Dutch opposition, with the last occasion happening 16 years ago.
18 - AZ's love affair with teams from Czechia continues, as they have never been beaten across 10 games. Their reward for their sixth such victory is a return to the quarter-finals, three years on from partaking in that exact round. The Alkmaar-based team could end up with two trophies this term, as they are also in the KNVB Beker final. As for those games against Czech sides, AZ have scored a stunning 18 goals.
9 - League phase winners Strasbourg are moving on, albeit with their tie against Rijeka ending up being a lot more challenging than one would expect. Le Racing were held to a 1-1 draw at home, advancing 3-2 over the two legs. Far from vintage from the French side, but they are still in it, and have a great chance to go all the way. They are still unbeaten in Europe this term, having scored in their last nine games.
1 - Rijeka went on their best-ever European run this season, but that has now come to an end. The Croats can take pride in what they showed on the continental scene, proving difficult to break down. Nevertheless, they fall at the hands of a French team once again. Through six games versus Ligue 1 sides, Rijeka are without a win; however, they avoided defeat in the away match for the first time.
Follow the UEFA Conference League knockout round action on Flashscore.