Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal are odds-on favourites to win Europa Conference League Group C in their maiden appearance in Europe’s third-tier competition.
With the three remaining sides in this section, including Austria Wien, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Lech Poznan, evenly matched, the Spaniards should be steamrolling to springtime Europa Conference League fixtures.
Europa Conference League Group C Fixtures
Matchday 1 – September 8
- Villarreal vs Lech Poznan
- Austria Wien vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Matchday 2 – September 15
- Lech Poznan vs Austria Wien
- Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs Villarreal
Matchday 3 – October 6
- Lech Poznan vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva
- Villarreal vs Austria Wien
Matchday 4 – October 13
- Austria Wien vs Villarreal
- Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs Lech Poznan
Matchday 5 – October 27
- Villarreal vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva
- Austria Wien vs Lech Poznan
Matchday 6 – November 3
- Lech Poznan vs Villarreal
- Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs Austria Wien
Europa Conference League Group C Preview
Seasonal European campaigners Villarreal are one of the leading candidates to take home the crown, let alone finish at the top of this relatively low-profile section.
After Jose Mourinho conveniently became the first-ever Europa Conference League winner with Roma last season, it’s Unai Emery’s turn to prove his European credentials again.
The Spaniard has four Europa League titles in his trophy cabinet, including three in succession with Sevilla between 2014-2016 and one with the Yellow Submarine in 2020/21.
Given the competition in Group C, a routine autumn campaign in Europe’s third-tier competition should set the pulse for Villarreal’s bid to acquire a second European title in three years.
Austria Wien’s return to a UEFA group stage following a five-year hiatus from continental action is quite an achievement for Die Veilchen, who last won the domestic league title in 2013.
However, the Austrians have been no match for their European peers in their recent continental adventures, as evidenced by their eight-match winless streak in UEFA-sanctioned games.
You don’t have to look beyond their 6-1 thumping at the hands of Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-offs to understand Wien’s limitations when it comes to European action.
On top of that, the last time they navigated their way into European competition knock-outs was in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva may be the least exciting side on this list, but their fourth group stage appearance since 2016/17 suggests they are on course to becoming European regulars.
Dinamo Minsk, Lugano and Universitatea Craiova all fell victim to the Camels’ imperious qualifying run as Elyaniv Barda’s team reached the group phase without losing a single qualifying leg (W4, D2).
One thing is sure – last season’s Israeli Premier League runners-up deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Second place in Group C is very much up for grabs, meaning Lech Poznan will be out to make their way into the knock-outs for the first time since 2011/12.
Despite finishing bottom of their last UEFA group back in 2020/21, the Railwayman picked themselves up to conquer the Ekstraklasa last term in an emphatic fashion.
Lech have carried their predatory form into the 2022/23 Europa Conference League qualifying, dispatching Dinamo Batumi, Vikingur Reyjkavik and Dudelange to book a place in the competition proper.
Let’s see if they have what it takes to claim the coveted second place.
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