Shakhtar, Rayo score three on the road
9 - Irish striker Troy Parrott scored twice for AZ Alkmaar - including an 87th minute winner - for them to edge Sparta Praha 2-1 at home. The Dutch side peppered their opponents' goal, mustering a whopping 27 shots in the 90 minutes. However, they only managed to take a narrow first leg lead to Czechia three minutes from time. AZ have never been beaten by a Czech club, with their undefeated run now stretching to nine (5-4-0).
4 - While not impossible, Sparta's task to make a European quarter-final for the first time in a decade has become a bit more difficult now. They are yet to lose at Letna this term in Europe, but they will have to score if they are to remain in the competition. Thursday's defeat takes it to four in total in the Conference League run, qualifiers included. All four of those reverses were by one goal.
14 - Lech Poznan find themselves in a small hole in their tie with Shakhtar Donetsk after suffering a 3-1 loss on home turf. Having made the last eight of the UECL three years ago, the Poles will play the second leg in their home country trying to turn things around. Although the first leg did not go their way, Lech can take comfort in the fact that they kept their streak of scoring at home going, which has now reached 14.
8 - Shakhtar's sole defeat during the league phase came against a Polish side with Legia Warszawa beating them on matchday 2. However, the Pitmen have come out on top on this occasion. They are 90 minutes away from becoming the first Ukrainian team to reach the last eight of the UECL, but will first have to get the job done next Thursday. Across four matchups with Polish clubs, Shakhtar have scored eight times.
25 - Rijeka fell to a 2-1 reverse against Strasbourg at Stadion Rujevica, as goals from Joaquin Panichelli and Martial Godo put the French team in command. However, Ante Majstorovic's strike 14 minutes from time gives the Croats hope of pulling off the upset. The match was Rijeka's 25th in the UECL all-time, qualifiers included, and remarkably, they have conceded 25 times across those fixtures.
5 - Strasbourg are in a more than decent position to become the fourth different Ligue 1 side to make the quarter-finals in the Conference League. They are the only side left among the 16 to have not lost in the tournament this term, qualifiers included. If they keep that going at home in the return leg, they are through. Le Racing are on a five-game winning streak, their longest run in European play ever.
11 - It will be a long road back for Samsunspor, who levelled the score once against Rayo Vallecano, only to fall in a 3-1 result. Marius' goal proved not to be enough for the Turkish outfit, who are competing in Europe for the first time. If they are to keep their continental journey alive going into May, they will have to return the favour in Spain. The number 11 has several significant moments here for Kirmizi Simsekler: it was their 11th European game, which they have now conceded 11 times in total. Plus, they had 11 shots in total during the defeat.
12 - Rayo's third goal will be particularly significant, given how late it came in the tie. Alemao's finish came 12 minutes before the end, putting them in a more comfortable spot for next Thursday. The Spaniards, participating in Europe for just the second time in their history, have never lost at home in UEFA action. Still, Samsunspor were the 12th different team Los Franjirojos have beaten in continental play.
AEK Athens dominate as Fiorentina leave it late
2 - Celje were the one team to suffer a heavy defeat as part of Thursday's action. The Slovenian side, who made the quarter-finals last term, are down 4-0 in their tie against AEK Athens after the Greeks did their damage inside 50 minutes. It looks like they are set to be eliminated from the UECL, bar a comeback for the ages on the road. Celje have gone scoreless at home for the second time this term, something that had never happened to them before.
16 - AEK Athens are closing in on a fifth European quarter-final, 28 years on from their last one. Moreover, assuming they finish off the job next week, the Greek side will have reached the last eight of all four major UEFA club competitions, including the defunct UEFA Cup Winners Cup. Dikefalos have enjoyed much success with Slovenian sides, having now scored 16 times in eight such games.
6 - It was another tough night at home in Europe for Crystal Palace as they ended up playing to a goalless draw against AEK Larnaca. Oliver Glasner's men were the ones asking the questions in the match, but just as was the case on matchday 2, the Eagles were unable to beat their Cypriot opponents. It is not all bad for Palace, who kept their sixth clean sheet in the UECL this term.
0 - One may be forgiven for thinking that AEK Larnaca have found the cheat code to stop Palace from scoring on them. After all, through 180 minutes of play between the two, last season's Cypriot Cup winners have maintained a pair of clean sheets. A maiden European quarter-final for them is no longer out of the question. However, if they wish to score, they will have to do better. AEK failed to register a single shot on target in the match.
18 - Albert Gudmundsson was Fiorentina's hero in their first leg as the Icelandic international converted a penalty in stoppage time to help La Viola complete a 2-1 comeback success over Rakow Czestochowa. It puts the two-time finalists in the driving seat ahead of their trip to Poland next Thursday. The result made it 18 home wins in the Conference League for Fiorentina, including qualifiers.
3 - Jonatan Brunes had given Rakow the lead at the hour mark, but their lead barely lasted before Cher Ndour equalised to make the Poles' joy short-lived. The good news for them is that the tie is far from over, with next week's decider looking to be quite fascinating. Medaliki's record versus Italian teams is not promising though. It was their third defeat against a Serie A team in as many matches.
26 - Sigma Olomouc will be pleased with their 0-0 stalemate with Mainz as the Czech side will head to the second match on level pegging. A match with few major scoring opportunities favoured the hosts, who did outshoot their Bundesliga counterparts in this one (8-5). Nevertheless, no one could find the back of the net. Sigma were last involved in a 0-0 match in Europe 26 years ago in the UEFA Cup against Mallorca, who ended up knocking them out.
1 - It was far from a vintage performance from Mainz, who failed to impress on the road. Home comforts will make them feel confident though, especially seeing they have won all four at MEWA Arena this term in the competition. The first half in particular was one to forget. In the opening 45 minutes, Die Nullfunfer were able to muster just one attempt, their worst showing of any half in the UECL.
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