Conference League Round 4: narrow wins, big consequences

The UEFA Conference League matches on November 27 delivered tense, narrow and often physical games. Fiorentina suffered another setback at home. AZ Alkmaar pushed until late to break Shelbourne. Shakhtar Donetsk survived a demanding night in Dublin. Strasbourg overturned Crystal Palace with an energetic second half. Universitatea Craiova also stopped Mainz, who entered the match unbeaten in Europe.

The pattern was simple. Teams that stayed compact and reacted quickly earned their points. AEK Athens, Shakhtar and Craiova defended their box with discipline. AZ and Strasbourg found openings through pressure and movement. Tight margins defined nearly every match, and the Conference League table remains compressed before the final rounds.

Fiorentina 0-1 AEK Athens: Gacinovic strikes as Viola miss key chances

Fiorentina created several clear openings but failed to convert. Two goals were ruled out for offside after long VAR checks, and Edin Džeko hit the woodwork with a powerful header. The Italian side kept possession yet struggled with their final actions. AEK defended deep, slowed the tempo and waited for one decisive moment.

The winning goal arrived through sharp movement. A low cross reached Stavros Pilios, who redirected the ball into Mijat Gačinović’s path. The midfielder reacted quickly and finished from close range. Thomas Strakosha stayed solid in goal, and Pilios caused constant problems on the flank. The victory keeps AEK in the qualifying race.

AZ Alkmaar 2-0 Shelbourne: De Wit and Jensen decide a patient match

AZ dominated from the opening minutes but found Shelbourne organised and compact. The Irish side denied space between the lines and forced AZ to recycle possession repeatedly. Wessel Speel made several important saves to keep the visitors in the match. Alkmaar pushed the full width of the pitch yet lacked precision in the final pass.

The match opened late. Peer Koopmeiners delivered a well-placed cross from a short corner, and Mees de Wit scored with a clean header. Shelbourne stepped forward and left gaps, which allowed Isak Jensen to score the second goal with a driven shot from distance. AZ gained a crucial win and moved into a stronger Conference League position.

Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk: Elias and Nazaryna show efficiency

Shamrock Rovers matched Shakhtar’s intensity for long periods but lacked precision near goal. The Ukrainian team played with more clarity in the final third and struck first. Kaua Elias scored after a quick attacking sequence on the right. His movement and composure created problems for the home defence, which struggled with his pace.

Shakhtar doubled the lead through Yehor Nazaryna, who hit a powerful free kick into the bottom corner. Rovers responded with a late goal from Connor Malley, who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper. The home side pushed until the final whistle, but Shakhtar remained disciplined. Elias and Nazaryna delivered the decisive quality.

Strasbourg 2-1 Crystal Palace: Emegha and El Mourabet complete the turnaround

Crystal Palace started well and struck through Tyrick Mitchell, who finished confidently after a direct run. Adam Wharton controlled early phases, and the visitors nearly doubled the lead when Ismaïla Sarr hit the post from long range. Strasbourg struggled to find rhythm before halftime but stayed compact enough to avoid further damage.

The match changed after Strasbourg increased intensity. Diego Moreira delivered a low cross that reached Emanuel Emegha for the equaliser. Soon after, a powerful free kick hit the bar, and Samir El Mourabet reacted fastest to score the winner. Strasbourg kept control in the final minutes and moved towards the top of their group.

Universitatea Craiova 1-0 Mainz: Al Hamlawi breaks the German side’s run

The match opened slowly, with frequent stoppages and few clean chances. Mainz lost goalkeeper Robin Zentner to injury, and Pavlo Isenko replaced him for Craiova. The Romanian club produced the sharper moments and forced Mainz into several hurried clearances. The German side created one major chance, but Isenko saved from Dominik Kohr.

The decisive moment came from direct play. A run down the right forced a mistimed challenge, and Alexander Cicâldău reached the ball first. The referee awarded a penalty, and Assad Al Hamlawi converted with a calm strike. Mainz thought they equalised late through Kacper Potulski, yet VAR ruled it offside. Craiova held firm and earned a valuable victory.

Conference League standings after November 27

Strasbourg moved to ten points after their comeback. Shakhtar reached nine and remain within reach of top seeding. Mainz also sit on nine but dropped ground with the defeat. AEK Athens and Universitatea Craiova advanced to seven points and increased pressure on their rivals. Crystal Palace and Fiorentina remain on six, which leaves a narrow margin before the league phase ends.

The table remains tight, and almost every team still has something to play for. Many matches now carry heavier tactical decisions, because rotation, travel and pressure influence outcomes. These small factors often decide late goals and shift momentum quickly.

Conclusion

The November 27 schedule showed why the UEFA Conference League continues to grow in importance. AEK defended with discipline, AZ found answers late, Shakhtar displayed superior finishing, Strasbourg adapted well, and Craiova delivered a controlled upset. Fans across Africa can review the updated odds on the Best sports betting sites in Kenya, especially with only a few rounds left.