Roundup of the Round of 16 action in 2025-26 UEFA Conference League.
Having battled their way through the knockout play-offs, Crystal Palace faced a tough test as the competition hit the business end in a round which delivered plenty of goals and entertainment.
Lech Poznan 3-4 Shakhtar Donetsk
Marlon Gomes, Newerton and Isaque fired Shakhtar Donetsk to a 3-1 first leg victory at Lech Poznan, despite Mikael Ishak’s effort giving the Polish hosts hope of a second-leg comeback with a two-goal deficit.
Ishak proceeded to net a first-half brace in the second leg to pull Lech Poznan level on aggregate but despite a 2-1 victory, they exited the competition after Joao Moutinho’s own-goal handed Shakhtar the aggregate victory.
AZ Alkmaar 6-1 Sparta Prague
Troy Parrott’s brace saw AZ Alkmaar clinch an eventual 2-1 first-leg win at home despite Matyas Vojta’s equaliser for Sparta Prague.
Parrott netted AZ’s second goal in a dominant 4-0 away second-leg victory, with Isak Jensen, Sven Mijnans and Ro-Zangelo Daal also on the scoresheet for the Dutch club.
Crystal Palace 2-1 AEK Larnaca
Following a goalless first leg at Selhurst Park, Ismaila Sarr’s brace saw Palace win the second 2-1 leg despite Enric Saborit’s equaliser to force extra time, although Saborit and Petros Ioannou both were red carded for AEK Larnaca in separate incidents.
Fiorentina 4-2 Rakow Czestochowa
Albert Gudmundsson’s 93rd-minute penalty gifted Fiorentina a 2-1 comeback victory at home to Rakow Czestochowa, after Cher Ndour cancelled out Jonatan Braut Brunes’ opener for the Polish visitors.
Rakow Czestochowa again blew an one-goal lead as they lost 2-1 in the second leg at home, having led through Karol Struski which levelled the tie on aggregate before Ndour and Marin Pongracic completed Fiorentina’s comeback.
Samsunspor 2-3 Rayo Vallecano
Alemao’s brace and Alvaro Garcia’s effort saw Rayo Vallecano record a 3-1 victory in the first leg away to Samsunspor, as the Turkish hosts’ Marius Mouandilmadji initially cancelled out Alemao’s opening goal.
Rayo Vallecano eventually progressed on aggregate after they suffered a 1-0 second-leg loss at home as Cherif Ndiaye netted Samsunspor’s 65th-minute winner, although the Turkish visitors finished with ten men after Zeki Yavru was shown a 93rd-minute red card.
Celje 2-4 AEK Athens
Barnabas Varga, Aboubakary Koita, Mijat Gacinovic and Harold Moukoudi fired AEK Athens to a dominant 4-0 first-leg victory away at Celje.
Celje however mounted a futile second-leg fightback as they exited the competition despite a 2-0 away win, as Nikita Iosifov and Rudi Pozeg Vancas netted first-half goals for the Slovenian visitors.
Sigma Olomouc 0-2 Mainz 05
Sigma Olomouc held Mainz to a goalless first leg at home but ultimately lost 2-0 in the second leg, as Stefan Posch and Armindo Sieb netted second-half goals to seal Mainz’s aggregate win.
Rijeka 2-3 Strasbourg
Joaquin Panichelli and Martial Godo fired Strasbourg to a 2-1 first-leg victory at Rijeka, although Ante Majstorovic snatched a consolatory goal for the Croatian hosts.
Valentin Barco’s 71st-minute equaliser saw Strasbourg snatch a 1-1 draw at home in the second leg to edge past Rijeka on aggregate, after Toni Fruk put the Croatian side ahead in the 21st minute.
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