Excel at Conference League: Piraeus, Ajax, Molde? Eintracht's Next Steps
Eintracht Frankfurt's brutal defeat to Aberdeen in December left a sour taste that the team is eager to wipe away. The 2-0 defeat, with no home supporters present, was a low point that the Conference League opponents should not define the team's future exploits. The following destinations await Eintracht fans in the Conference League draw: Olympiakos Piraeus, FK Molde, or Ajax Amsterdam, to name a few.
The Conference League offers a slew of enticing prospects, and Ajax Amsterdam looks particularly tantalizing as a potential opponent. Eintracht isn't the only team with high hopes; no team in the Europa League is anticipating a Conference League match against the Frankfurt squad.
Coach Dino Toppmöller must now address the looming absence of Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe, who suffered an ankle injury in the group-stage finale. Toppmöller expressed disappointment in the team's Stern Abendspiel performance, but he assured fans that the team was committed to delivering victories in the future.
With a mixed record of three wins and three losses in their current group stage, Eintracht Frankfurt has an opportunity to repair their record against failed Europa League teams. Their first chance to do so comes on February 15 and 22 – dates that could determine their entry into the Conference League round of 16.
Bonus Insights
Although Eintracht Frankfurt is in the UEFA Europa League, they do not face direct competition in the UEFA Conference League. Instead, there are potential Conference League opponents for the teams that do not advance in the Europa League. These include:
- Heidenheim - Qualified for the Conference League knockout round play-off stage after defeating Häcken in the play-offs and Copenhagen in the second leg. Heidenheim remains in contention against Vitória or Chelsea in the round of 16.
- Celje (Slovenia) - Qualified through play-offs, with a disappointing performance in 2021.
- Cercle Brugge (Belgium) - Qualified through play-offs but have never before competed in a UEFA club competition.
- Chelsea (England) - Qualified through play-offs and are yet to make an appearance in a UEFA club competition in the new season.
- Copenhagen (Denmark) - Qualified through play-offs, with Man City as their last UEFA club competition foe.
- Djurgården (Sweden) - Qualified through play-offs, with a disappointing finish in the 2021 Conference League.
- Fiorentina (Italy) - Qualified through play-offs and reached the 2021 Conference League final before losing to Olympiacos.
- Jagiellonia (Poland) - Qualified through the Europa League qualifying play-offs but have no history in a UEFA club competition.
- Legia Warszawa (Poland) - Reached the 2021 Conference League knockout stage play-offs but was defeated by Molde.
- Lugano (Switzerland) - Qualified through the Europa League play-offs but ended in the 2021 Conference League qualifying play-offs stage.
- Molde (Norway) - Qualified through the play-offs and has previous experience in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
- Pafos (Cyprus) - Qualified through the play-offs but has no history of competing in a UEFA club competition.
- Panathinaikos (Greece) - Qualified through play-offs and reached the Champions League play-offs and the Europa League group stage in the past.
- Real Betis (Spain) - Qualified through the play-offs and reached the Europa League group stage in the last season but failed to progress in the Conference League knockout round play-offs, losing to Dynamo Kiev.
- SK Rapid (Austria) - Qualified through the Europa League qualifying play-offs, with a disappointing performance in the 2021 Conference League group stages.
