Conference League: Mourinho’s Roma know their potential opponents while waiting for Conte

Roma won’t be involved in the Conference League knockout round playoff draw, but clubs that dropped from the Europa League could be a threat for José Mourinho’s side in the Round of 16, not to mention Antonio Conte’s Tottenham.

The Giallorossi finished top of their group, gaining straight access to the UEFA Conference League Round of 16.

Roma will play their next European fixture on March 10 and the second leg will be played one week later, on Match 17.

They’ll know their opponents after the knockout round playoff, which involves the group runners-up and the third-placed teams from the Europa League.

Antonio Conte’s Tottenham are arguably among the title contenders, although Spurs have yet to book their place for the next phase.

Their last group stage game against Rennes was postponed due to a COVID outbreak that hit Spurs and UEFA has yet to find a date to rearrange the tie.

Spurs have a very busy fixture list in the Premier League, while French clubs have a winter break from December 22.

December 31 is the cut-off date, but UEFA could be forced to schedule the match between Spurs and Rennes in 2022.

If Conte’s side win, they will finish runner-up and be among the seeded teams in the draw, which will take place this coming Monday anyway.

The runners-up in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage (seeded) play the return legs at home.

These are all the teams still involved in the competition. Group winners, such as Roma, have already qualified for the Round of 16.

Conference League Group winners (qualified for the Round of 16)
LASK (AUT)
Gent (BEL)
Roma (ITA)
AZ (NED)
Feyenoord (NED)
Copenhagen (DEN)
Rennes (FRA)
Basel (SUI)

Conference League runners-up (seeded)
Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)
PAOK (GRE)
Partizan (SRB)
Qarabağ (AZE)
Randers (DEN)
Slavia Praha (CZE)
Tottenham (ENG) or Vitesse (NED)

Europa League third-placed (unseeded)
Celtic (SCO)
Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Leicester City (ENG)
Marseille (FRA)
Midtjylland (DEN)
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Rapid Wien (AUT)
Sparta Praha (CZE)

Key Dates:

Knockout round playoffs: 17 & 24 February
Round of 16 draw: February 25

Round of 16: 10 & 17 March
Quarter-finals & Semi-final draw: 18 March

Quarter-finals: 7 & 14 April

Semi-finals: 28 April & 5 May

Final: May 25 (National Arena, Tirana)