The UEFA Conference League is back, and the first legs of the knockout round play-offs delivered exactly what this competition does best: unexpected winners, stubborn underdogs, and ties that still feel wide open. In a format where one moment can swing an entire two-legged story, the smartest way to read these games is through the numbers that reveal intent, pressure, and risk.
Below is a clean, team-by-team snapshot of the first legs, using one standout stat from each side. Think of it as a practical briefing: what happened, what it suggests, and what to watch in the return fixtures.
Noah vs AZ Alkmaar: The Shock Result That Now Has Real Consequences
Noah produced the night’s most surprising home win, beating AZ 1-0 and giving themselves a genuine pathway to qualification.
- Noah: 10 clean sheets this season, with nine of them coming at home. That home resilience is now their biggest asset.
- AZ Alkmaar: 12 goals conceded away in 2025/26 (including qualifiers). The problem isn’t talent. It’s control on the road.
If Noah keep their shape and manage game state, they can make the second leg uncomfortable for longer than AZ will want.
KuPS vs Lech Poznań: A Red Card, a Harsh Lesson, and a Mountain to Climb
KuPS lost 2-0 at home while spending most of the match down a man. That’s a brutal combination in a two-legged tie.
- KuPS: 8 times this campaign they have failed to score. In Europe, that’s usually fatal.
- Lech Poznań: Scored in 11 straight away games. That consistency travels, and it gives them margin.
KuPS need an early goal in Poland to make this a contest. Without it, Lech can manage the tie on their terms.
Sigma Olomouc vs Lausanne-Sport: The “Nothing Decided” 1-1 That Might Explode in the Return
This one finished 1-1, and it felt like a classic first-leg stalemate: one side created more, the other side left satisfied.
- Sigma Olomouc: 7 times in their European history they have ended 1-1. Familiar territory, but not always comfortable.
- Lausanne-Sport: Still winless vs Czech teams after five matches (0 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws). They’ll believe the trend is ready to break.
The second leg feels like a tactical chess match that could suddenly become chaotic if the first goal arrives early.
Zrinjski vs Crystal Palace: A Reminder That Possession Doesn’t Pay the Bills
Crystal Palace dominated the ball but left Bosnia with a 1-1 draw, and suddenly the tie has tension.
- Zrinjski: 14 home European draws all-time. They know how to survive at home, even when outmatched.
- Crystal Palace: This is the second time they failed to win a European match after taking the lead. Closing games is now the question.
Palace still have the stronger squad, but they now need to prove they can turn control into a result.
Drita vs Celje: A Late Punch That Changed the Entire Tie
Drita nearly completed a comeback from 2-0 down, only to concede in stoppage time and lose 3-2. Emotionally, that can either break a team or sharpen them.
- Drita: 24 goals conceded this season. When games open up, they can leak momentum.
- Celje: 4 away wins in this competition this term (including qualifiers). They don’t just travel—they compete.
The return leg is simple: Drita must defend better than they did in the first half, and Celje must keep their discipline late.
Jagiellonia vs Fiorentina: La Viola Put One Foot Through
Fiorentina’s 3-0 win was the clearest “statement” result of the round. Jagiellonia now need a miracle.
- Jagiellonia: 9 home games scored in a row before this… and they didn’t register a single shot on target. That’s a collapse in threat.
- Fiorentina: 30 all-time Conference League wins. Experience and know-how are showing.
Fiorentina can now manage the second leg like a professional exercise. Jagiellonia must chase fast, and that carries risk.
Omonoia vs Rijeka: One Goal, One Red Card, and a Narrow Margin
Rijeka won 1-0 away and even finished with 10 men, yet still protected the clean sheet. That tells you plenty.
- Omonoia: 6
- Rijeka: Their first away win in Europe while also keeping a clean sheet. That’s a confidence-builder.
Omonoia’s mission in the second leg is to score first. Without that, Rijeka can lean into their defensive rhythm.
Shkendija vs Samsunspor: The Newcomers With the Shot Volume
Samsunspor took a 1-0 away win, and Shkendija’s impressive journey is now at risk.
- Shkendija: Their 13th home loss in European competition all-time. History isn’t destiny, but it adds pressure.
- Samsunspor: 17 shots in the first leg. That’s not a “steal.” That’s a team creating.
The second leg in Turkey now looks like a test of patience: can Samsunspor convert control into a clean finish, or will Shkendija find a way to drag it into chaos?