Conference League Knockout Draw: Chelsea Awaits Its Fate

Chelsea’s Journey to the Last 16

Today marks the draw for the knockout phase of the Conference League, during which Chelsea will discover its last-16 adversaries and the path ahead toward the final match.

Despite a recent dip in their domestic performance, Chelsea remains the strongest contender for victory in the tournament. Under the management of Enzo Maresca, the team has secured six consecutive wins and scored 26 goals during the league stage of the competition.

Maresca’s choice to include Cole Palmer in the knockout squad reflects the club’s serious intentions as they aim to become the inaugural team to triumph in all three of UEFA’s major club tournaments. This afternoon, they will find out who their opponents will be, and finishing first allows Chelsea to play the second leg at home.

When is the Conference League Draw?

The knockout rounds draw for the Europa Conference League will occur at 1 PM GMT on February 21 at UEFA’s House of European Football situated in Nyon, Switzerland. The draw will commence following the Europa League last-16 draw that starts around 12 PM GMT.

How to Watch the Draw

Fans can catch the draw live via UEFA’s official website and TNT Sports. Additional live updates will be available through dedicated coverage on The Independent’s live blog.

Potential Opponents for Chelsea in the Last 16

Having topped their league phase, Chelsea will face either Real Betis or FC Copenhagen in the round of 16. Real Betis recently signed Manchester United’s Antony and overcame Gent, while FC Copenhagen managed a comeback against FC Heidenheim.

Teams Qualified for the Conference League Draw

The top eight teams from the competition’s league phase have automatically qualified for the last 16. These teams are seeded and will have the advantage of playing their second leg matches at home. Similar to other UEFA competitions, the teams are matched based on their league standings and will confront one of two teams that won their playoff tie.

List of Qualified Matchups

• Real Betis to face Chelsea or Vitoria
• Jagiellonia Bialystok to play Legia Warsaw or Cercle Brugge
• Celje to play Djurgardens or Lugano
• Panathinaikos to play Fiorentina or Rapid Wien
• Borac Banja Luka to play Fiorentina or Rapid Wien
• Pagos to play Djurgardens or Lugano
• Molde to play Legia Warsaw or Cercle Brugge
• FC Copenhagen to face Chelsea or Vitoria

When are the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Draws?

From the knockout phase onward, the tournament follows a bracketed format. Consequently, teams will learn their potential opponents for the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals all today. For the quarter-finals and semi-finals, a draw will be held to designate the match order, including home advantage for each leg.

• Round of 16: March 6 & 13, 2025
• Quarter-finals: April 10 & 17, 2025