On this day, the return legs of the 1/8 finals in the Conference League delivered a clear slate of results, setting the stage for the quarterfinal lineup. Across the ties, teams displayed varying degrees of form and ambition as they pushed through to the next round, with several aggregate scores tipping in favor of the visitors or home sides depending on the leg in question.
AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands secured a 2:1 victory over Lazio, mirroring their earlier away win by the same margin and underscoring a resilient performance on the European stage. The Dutch club demonstrated tactical discipline and effective counterattacks, building a robust position to advance to the next round based on aggregate results and away goals rules where applicable.
Nice confidently dispatched Sheriff Tiraspol with a 3:1 win, following a 1:0 result from the first leg. The French side’s efficiency in front of goal, coupled with solid defensive organization, distinguished them in a tightly contested tie and sealed their progress with a comfortable aggregate advantage.
At the venue described as a rink-like setting in London, West Ham United faced a strong Cypriot opponent and ran out 4:0 winners against AEK Larnaca. The encounter followed a 2:0 result from the previous meeting, highlighting West Ham’s ability to translate domestic form into European success and maintain pressure throughout both legs.
Fiorentina, the Italian side known for their classic approach, beat Sivasspor of Turkey 4:1, extending their aggregate lead after a 1:0 win in the first leg. The Violets showcased swift build-ups and clinical finishing, which allowed them to control the tie and move closer to what would be a remarkable European journey this season.
Poland’s Lech Poznań overcame Djurgården from Sweden with a 3:0 scoreline in this leg, following a 2:0 victory in the first meeting. They demonstrated poise in attack and reliability at the back, securing a comfortable aggregate win that reflected a balanced performance across both legs.
Basel of Switzerland and Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia produced another high-scoring draw, finishing 2:2 in the deciding clash after a 2:2 stalemate in the first leg. The tie eventually swung on penalties, where Basel prevailed 4:1 in the shootout, underscoring the drama and pressure inherent in two-legged European ties.
Gent of Belgium forced an emphatic statement by defeating Istanbul Basaksehir 4:1 in the Turkish team’s home venue, overturning a 1:1 draw from the first leg. The Belgian side’s attacking intent and clinical finishing throughout the encounter laid the groundwork for their advancement in the competition’s knockout phase.
In a fixture that drew a clear line of separation, Villarreal from Spain edged Anderlecht with a minimal 1:0 win in the second leg, following a 1:1 draw in the opener. The Spaniards leveraged their experience and strategic discipline to lock in the aggregate victory and keep their European campaign on track for deeper progress.
The latest developments also included a note about Ferencvaros from Hungary, with their campaign under coach Cherchesova meeting another setback as they were unable to overcome Bayer in their latest pairing, continuing a challenging spell for the Hungarian side in the tournament’s knockout rounds.
Across these ties, teams balanced the demands of domestic league calendars with the pressure of European competition, delivering a mix of resilience, tactical nuance, and moments of clinical finishing that kept the drama alive as the field narrowed toward the quarterfinals. Observers highlighted that the results reflected a blend of experienced campaigners and rising clubs, each capitalizing on opportunities at key stages to shape the competition’s evolving narrative. Details from the matches indicate a trend toward efficient defenses paired with sharp, sometimes imaginative attacking play, a combination that tends to define the knockout phase of European tournaments and fuel anticipation for the next rounds of action. Sources familiar with the fixtures emphasized the importance of squad depth, strategic substitutions, and the ability to adapt to different venues and atmospheres as decisive factors in progressing through the bracket.