UEFA Conference League Round of 16: Chelsea Edge Copenhagen, Panathinaikos Stun Fiorentina, Molde Triumph

Author: Dieudonne Tebit | Date: March 6, 2025

The UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 first-leg matches on March 6, 2025, delivered thrilling encounters, setting up intriguing second-leg clashes. Here’s a recap of all the action.

FC Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea
Chelsea secured a crucial 2-1 away win against FC Copenhagen. After a quiet first half, Christopher Nkunku and Enzo Fernández came on to provide a spark, with Reece James breaking the deadlock early in the second half. Fernández doubled the lead before Copenhagen’s Gabriel Pereira pulled one back. Despite late pressure, Chelsea held firm to take an advantage into the second leg.

Molde 3-2 Legia Warsaw
Molde emerged victorious in a five-goal thriller against Legia Warsaw. The Norwegian side started strong, but Legia fought back to level at 2-2. However, a late goal secured the win for Molde, ensuring they take a narrow lead into the second leg in Poland.

Panathinaikos 3-2 Fiorentina
Panathinaikos pulled off an exciting 3-2 win over Fiorentina in Greece. The hosts took an early lead, but Fiorentina fought back to level at 2-2. A second-half strike gave Panathinaikos the edge heading into the second leg, where Fiorentina will need to step up to overturn the deficit.

Real Betis 2-2 Vitória SC
Real Betis and Vitória SC played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Betis twice took the lead, but the Portuguese visitors showed resilience to equalize both times. With the tie evenly poised, the second leg promises to be a tense affair.

Borac 1-1 SK Rapid Wien
Borac and SK Rapid Wien couldn’t be separated in a 1-1 draw. Both sides had opportunities to win, but the game remained level, leaving everything to play for in the return leg.

Jagiellonia Białystok 3-0 Cercle Brugge
Jagiellonia Białystok produced the most dominant performance of the night, defeating Cercle Brugge 3-0. The Polish side capitalized on their attacking momentum, putting themselves in a commanding position to reach the quarter-finals.

NK Celje 1-0 FC Lugano
NK Celje secured a narrow but valuable 1-0 victory over FC Lugano. The Slovenian outfit showed great defensive discipline, ensuring they take a slight edge into the second leg.

Pafos 1-0 Djurgården
Pafos earned a crucial 1-0 win against Djurgården, courtesy of a well-taken goal and a disciplined defensive performance. The Cypriot side will look to hold their advantage in Sweden next week.

Looking Ahead
With several ties delicately balanced, the second legs promise plenty of drama. Chelsea, Jagiellonia, and Panathinaikos hold strong positions, while other teams like Fiorentina and Legia Warsaw will need a big response. Fans can expect another exciting round of action as the battle for the quarter-finals intensifies.