Conference League, the draw: Fiorenntina, Scamacca’s West Ham to be avoided

The most fearsome clubs in Europe among the top 8 of the Conference are the English West Ham of the Azzurri Scamacca (goal yesterday), Emerson and Ogbonna, and AZ Alkmaar who eliminated Lazio. The English, 8 wins out of 8 in Europe (10 with the preliminaries), 19 goals in the cup (second attack behind Viola), have the only limit that in the Premier they are fighting to save themselves and will spend physical and emotional resources. For the rest Antonio, Fornals, Bowen, Lanzini, the former AC Milan player Paquetà, Rice and Soucek… lots of substance and class.

Outsiders

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Az Alkmaar, 23 years of age on average, has surpassed Lazio and is 3rd in the Netherlands; keep an eye on the Greek striker Pavlidis, 11 goals in the Eredivisie and 7 in Europe, on the former Milan full-back Kerkez, on the expert Clasie, on the former Sassuolo player Odgaard. For the rest, surprise Anderlecht, who knocked out Villarreal, with the Algerian expert Slimani and Vertonghen.

Other

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Then Nice, 7th in France and triumphant over Bordin’s Sheriff, and over Partizan in the group stage, with Khéphren Thuram and the former Juve player Ramsey in midfield and Schmeichel in goal. Then Gent have a terrible 20-year-old Nigerian, Gift Orban, 3 goals in 3′ in Istanbul (who had beaten Viola in the groups) and 12 goals in 9 matches in 2023. Basel thanks the former Roma player Calafiori who started the comeback in Bratislava. Lech Poznan have so far only lost to Villarreal in the group, and then won 3-0 in the second leg, then overcame Bodø Glimt, who hurt Roma in 2021, and Sweden’s Djurgården.