Palace to face AEK Larnaca as AZ set for Sparta clash after Conference League draw

[p]After a less-than-convincing performance in Bosnia eight days ago, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/crystal-palace/AovF1Mia/"]Eagles[/a] won 2-0 at Selhurst Park in the second leg to keep up their aims of winning European silverware for the first time in their history.[/p][p]With the top eight sides from the League Phase now re-entering the competition, their task is a little tougher. [/p][p]Top seeds [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/strasbourg/nP6UzIU1/"]Strasbourg[/a], unbeaten in the League Phase, and under new management in the form of Gary O'Neil, will take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rijeka/zXKuUR5J/"]Rijeka[/a] after the Croatian side beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/omonia/GSLWiAPe/"]Omonia[/a] in both legs to progress. Perennial semi-finalists Fiorentina, who survived an almighty scare to squeak past Jagiellonia on Thursday, have been given another Polish test in the form of Rakow.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sparta-prague/6qA358jH/"]Sparta Prague[/a], who will be confident of progressing after they were pitted against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/az-alkmaar/2RxOow1i/"]AZ Alkmaar[/a], whilst third seeds [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aek/ANpZncAM/"]AEK Athens[/a] will take on Celje.[/p][p]Elsewhere, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rayo-vallecano/8bcjFy6O/"]Rayo Vallecano[/a] - the only Spanish side in the Conference League this season - will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/samsunspor/pSc6z7bf/"]Samsunspor[/a], whilst Shakhtar, sixth in the League Phase, takes on Lech Poznan.[/p][p]The final will be played in Leipzig on Wednesday, May 27th.[/p][h2]Full Conference League round of 16 draw[/h2][p]The first leg of these ties will take place on March 12th, and the second legs will be played a week later. The first team in the pairs will play the first leg at home.[/p][p]Lech Poznan vs Shakhtar[/p][p]AZ Alkmaar vs Sparta Prague[/p][p]Crystal Palace vs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aek-larnaca/4lUZQCQq/"]AEK Larnaca[/a][/p][p]Fiorentina vs Rakow[/p][p]Samsunspor vs Rayo Vallecano[/p][p]Celje vs AEK Athens[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sigma-olomouc/drA4fSL4/"]Sigma Olomouc[/a] vs Mainz[/p][p]Rijeka vs Strasbourg[/p][h2]Road to Leipzig paved out[/h2][p]With the draw now set all the way to the final in Leipzig in May, the Conference League teams can glimpse at their future opponents.[/p][embed guid="f656baa2-3529-464d-b8b9-51df5a3c300f" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2027372210009084270" social-type="twitter" /][p]For Fiorentina, who are still striving for success in the competition, they could face Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals, before a potential semi-final against Sparta Prague.[/p][p]For the lowest seed, Sigma Olomouc, if they can upset Mainz, a trip to Strasbourg will be on the cards. For the French outfit, who have designs on winning this competition, their likeliest semi-final opponent is Rayo Vallecano of LaLiga.[/p]