Conference League Third Qualifying Round Preview

The UEFA Conference League has just hit the second half of its qualifying round campaign. So far, 75 teams have seen their continental journey come to an end in July. In August, another 54 will suffer the same fate.

This is the third qualifying round, and will feature two direct entrants, 49 winning teams from the second qualifying round, and nine sides falling from the Europa League. That brings it to a total of 60 teams in this stage, where league phase football is now just four games away.

Here is a preview of the action to take place over the next two weeks.

Champions Hope to Keep Dream Alive

The domestic champions path has four of the 30 ties in this round. Perhaps the highest profile of the lot will be between Riga FC and Győri ETO. Riga have already tasted success versus Hungarian opposition after knocking out Kecskeméti three years ago. Győr made the playoff round last term, falling to Riga FC at the final hurdle.

Tre Fiori return to Europe after enjoying a bye from the second qualifying round as San Marino's final representative take on Drita. The former became the first team from their country to win both legs in a European tie, achieving that four years ago in the first qualifying round. That will be a more difficult task this time around against a Drita side who reached the knockout stages last term.

Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes were the other side to benefit from a bye over the last two weeks, with their third qualifying round tie coming against Flora Tallinn. This is the seventh year in a row that Inter are playing continental football, with this being the sixth on the spin where they play at least four matches. Estonia's record champions Flora reached the group stage of the UECL in the first year of the competition in 2021, but have not progressed from this round since.

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Borac Banja Luka, another former group phase representative, are up versus ML Vitebsk. Borac made the last 16 just two seasons ago before Rapid Wien ended their run. Their second qualifying round win saw them score six times, the second most they have managed in a two-legged tie. ML Vitebsk are currently playing continental football for the first time after capturing the Belarusian title last year. Ironically, they lost their Champions League tie 5-1, but triumphed by that same score in UECL Q2.

Europe's Elite Look to Avoid Slip

In what is a stacked Conference League this term, there are several renowned names participating in this round. That includes Ajax, who face Shelbourne. The Dutch giants knocked off Dundalk in 1987/88 Cup Winners Cup, where they reached the final. Last season's Europa League semifinalists Sporting Braga meet Dinamo Minsk in their tie. The Portuguese club have not lost a match in qualifying since 2013, a run currently at 28 games.

Austria's two teams, Austira Wien and Rapid Wien, will look to make the playoff round as they battle Beitar Jerusalem and Paide, respectively. Austria have never scored against Israeli opposition, even suffering a 4-0 reverse to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the group stage four years ago. As for Rapid, they have reached at least the playoff round in all of their UECL appearances thus far.

Conference League regulars Gent will have Sweden's IFK Göteborg in what could be a tricky tie for the Belgians, who lost to their opponents in the UEFA Cup 40 years ago. In fact, they have lost five of six matches versus Swedish clubs all-time. Panathinaikos will also weary for their tie against CSKA 1948 Sofia. While this is a first-time meeting for the two, the Greek side lost all four matches against CSKA 1948's rivals CSKA Sofia.

There are a trio of Danish teams involved at this stage, with FC København taking on Debrecen, FC Midtjylland battling Bohemians, and FC Nordsjælland facing Valur Reykjavík. Both FCK and Midtjylland have positive memories against sides from their opponents' countries. Valur, meanwhile, will certainly have reason to fear FCN after suffering two eliminations at the hands of Brøndby a decade apart.

Tie of the Round: Dynamo Kyiv vs Qarabağ

For the tie of the round, it is hard to look past a pair of clubs who were in the Europa League second qualifying round over the last two weeks. Dynamo Kyiv and Qarabağ will be up against each other in a tie where one side will suffer an unusually early elimination.

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Dynamo have been group phase regulars throughout the millennium, only missing out once in the last two decades. Their earliest elimination came in 2005/06, when Thun knocked them out of Champions League qualifying. This is a first-ever tie for the former Cup Winners Cup winners against an Azeri outfit.

Perhaps the most difficult thing for Qarabağ is the fact they have yet to concede a goal in Europe this term, yet they find themselves in the UECL. They have also become a fixture in group phases over the last decade, though this will be the most difficult qualifying round tie they have faced over the last few years. While they have a 2-0-2 record against teams from Ukraine, all four previous matches occurred in the group stage rather than in qualifying.

Second Chance Beckons

There are several other teams who took part in the UEL in July. That includes Hajduk Split, who will aim to bounce back versus Žalgiris Vilnius. The Lithuanians pulled off one of the most memorable comebacks last time out, in contrast to a Hajduk team who failed to hold onto their advantage in the Europa League. Twente will also feel like they missed out on an opportunity and are out to make things right versus DAC Dunajská Streda.

Sheriff Tiraspol and Sankt Gallen were also among the teams to lose in UEL Q2, making their tie all the more fascinating seeing one of the two will suffer consecutive eliminations. Sheriff are 0-1-3 against Swiss teams, which is not a promising look for them. For Tromsø, they are up against CFR Cluj. The Romanians have gotten as far as the playoff round in each of the last two seasons, but faltered in that round both times. Hammarby will be up against it once more when they meet Raków Częstochowa. The former were knocked out by Lech six years ago in a one-off UEL second qualifying round tie.

Opportunity Awaits Lesser Known Clubs

Having pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the last round, Inter Turku will face an impressive Vaduz side who cruised in their tie. The former are one of three teams from Finland to feature in this round. Also involved are Ilves, who face Rijeka, and record champions HJK Helsinki, who face Motherwell. HJK are 1-2-3 against Scottish teams, but drew their last two just a few years ago against Aberdeen.

Auda and Dinamo Tirana will see their tie as a huge chance to make the playoff round, which would be a first for the Latvian side. Dinamo caused an upset against Hajduk in the third qualifying round a year ago, and will certainly fancy their chances at making it through this time. RFS, the other team from Latvia, battle Jablonec in their tie. The former fell at the final hurdle last term, while the latter made the group phase in the UECL in their only other appearance five years ago.

Switzerland could have three teams in the playoff round if things go their way. Besides the previously-mentioned Sankt Gallen, Sion and Lugano are up versus FC Noah and NSÍ Runavík, respectively. The Armenians will pose move of a threat for Sion, seeing they have played in the first two editions of the UECL league phase.

Partizan Belgrade are desperate to end their run without group phase football as they meet Tobol Kostanay. Both of Partizan's previous games against Kazakh opposition ended in victory. Hapoel Tel Aviv have had to wait even longer for a return to the main rounds - they last graced fall football in 2012/13 - but will be in for a stern test against GKS Katowice.

Shkëndija are the last team left from North Macedonia and are aiming to make consecutive UECL league phases, but they will have to get past Hibernian. This will be The Hibbies' first crack at a North Macedonian opponent in the process. As for Brann, who made the UEL knockout stages last term, they will play Apollon Limassol. The Cypriot club have made a group phase on five previous occasions, including once in the Conference League back in 2022/23.