Conference League Matchday 5 Roundup

The fifth matchday of the UEFA Conference League group stage has concluded, featuring several notable matches. Chelsea continued their impressive run with a 3-1 away victory against Astana, while Real Betis secured a crucial 1-0 win at Petrocub.

Key results from Thursday, December 12:

• FC Astana 1-3 Chelsea
• Petrocub 0-1 Real Betis
• Fiorentina 7-0 LASK
• St Gallen 1-4 Guimaraes

Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, remains the dominant force in the competition, winning all their matches so far. Fiorentina recorded the biggest win of the round, thrashing LASK 7-0. Guimaraes impressed with a 4-1 away win at St Gallen, keeping them in close pursuit of Chelsea.

Real Betis, Spain’s sole representative, edged closer to securing a playoff spot with their narrow victory over Petrocub. Manuel Pellegrini’s side won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Bakambu, though they were far more dominant than the scoreline suggests.

In the overall standings, Chelsea leads with 15 points, while Larne sits at the bottom without any points. Teams currently in position to advance directly include Guimaraes, Fiorentina, Legia Warsaw, Lugano, Shamrock Rovers, Cercle Brugge, and Jagiellonia. Real Betis currently occupies 17th place in the table.

The final matchday of the group stage is scheduled for December 19, which will determine the teams progressing to the next round.