Royale Union Saint-Gilloise returned to European competition after a 58-year absence last season, but got all the way to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, eventually ousted by Bayer Leverkusen.

This time round, Alexander Blessin’s side finished third in their group, most-notably beating an admittedly understrength Liverpool in Brussels, thereby dropping into this tournament for the very first time.

Domestically, les Unionistes are currently eight points clear at the top of the Jupiler Pro League, unbeaten in 18 matches, chasing a 12th title, although the most-recent of these came all the way back in 1935.

Since returning to UEFA competition, Union SG have won six of ten home matches, losing only two, so will be hoping to establish a first leg lead at Stade Constant Vanden Stock.

Eintracht Frankfurt meantime, as mentioned, won the Europa League just two seasons ago, so are hoping to make a similarly lengthy run in this competition.

However, Dino Toppmöller’s team were not impressive in the group phase, winning three and losing three, thereby having to settle for second place, below PAOK.

Die Adler are currently sixth in the Bundesliga, held to a 1-1 draw by Bochum on Saturday, and are not in great form ahead of this trip to Brussels.

The winners of this tie are tough to call, but the two legs should guarantee goals.

Real Betis vs GNK Dinamo Zagreb betting tips

When Real Betis began this European campaign, they did not plan to be in the Europa Conference League but, now here, are dreaming of claiming a first-ever continental title.

Los Verdiblancos were odds-on favourites to top their Europa League group, but ultimately ended-up third, losing on both matchday five and six, beaten by Sparta in Prague and then 3-2 at home by Rangers.

Betis have not got further than the round of 16 in any UEFA competition since 1998, but Manuel Pellegrini’s team have to fancy their chances of changing that, favourites to get through this two-legged affair.

GNK Dinamo Zagreb meantime have already featured in all three European tournaments this season, beaten in Champions League qualifying by AEK Athens, before defeat in the Europa League against Sparta Prague.

Sergej Jakirović's team then finished third in their Europa Conference League group, winning three and losing three, with the Blues now aiming to win a knockout tie for the first time since beating Tottenham in 2021.

Given that the Croatian champions have lost all nine of their visits to Spain, Real Betis are likely to establish a first leg advantage at Estadio Benito Villamarín.

Ajax vs Bodo/Glimt betting tips

In their illustrious history, Ajax have won four Champions League titles, the Cup Winners’ Cup, the UEFA Cup, three UEFA Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups.

One thing however, the Dutch giants have never achieved is playing a Europa Conference League match, a fact that is about to change.

The start of this season was nightmarish for Ajax, finding themselves in the Eredivisie relegation zone as recently as October, although they’re up to fifth now, despite seeing an 11-match unbeaten run ended by Heerenveen on Saturday.

In the Europa League meantime, they failed to win any of their first five group games, although a 3-1 victory over AEK Athens on the final matchday was enough to pinch third place from the Greek champions.

So now, competing in Europe’s third-tier competition, John van ‘t Schip’s team are under pressure to make a deep run.

Bodø/Glimt meantime did just that two seasons ago, ousted by Roma in the quarter-finals of this competition, before falling to Lech Poznań at this stage 12 months ago.

This time round, Kjetil Knutsen’s team came second in their group, below Club Brugge but above Beşiktaş.

With the new Eliteserien season not starting until April Fool’s Day, this will be the Yellow Horde’s first competitive fixture for 63 days, making a home win at Johan Cruijff Arena appear likely.

Olympiacos vs Ferencvaros betting tips

These two teams are relatively evenly-matched, making it vitally important for Olympiacos to claim a first leg advantage in Piraeus.

The record 47-times Greek champions are going through a down period right now, finishing third last season while they’re fourth right now, despite having won 22 of the previous 27 titles; utter domination.

Following defeat to fierce rivals Panathinaikos earlier this month, Carlos Carvalhal was sacked as head coach and replaced by José Luis Mendilibar, who is their sixth permanent manager since the start of last season.

In Europe, following qualification wins over Genk and Čukarički, Olympiacos ended up third in their Europa League group, memorably beating West Ham 2-1 at home, so are set to debut in this competition.

Five-in-a-row Hungarian champions Ferencváros meanwhile have already played 14 European matches this season, embarrassingly hammered by KÍ in Champions League qualifying all the way back in July.

The Green Eagles then sailed through three rounds of qualifying in this tournament, scoring 21 goals and conceding two, before going through the group phase unbeaten also although, given that four of their matches were draws, they were pipped to top spot by Fiorentina.

Dejan Stanković's side are therefore unbeaten in 12 Europa Conference League games, but that record should be severely tested at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

Servette vs Ludogorets Razgrad betting tips

This has already been Servette’s best European campaign for 22 years, so just how far will they go?

The Maroons debuted in a UEFA group stage this season, in which they finished third, their sole win coming at home to Sheriff Tiraspol, but this was enough to see them claim third in that Europa League section.

Currently second in the Swiss Super League, René Weiler’s team could be dangerous, confident of victory in this first leg at Stade de Genève.

Ludogorets Razgrad’s monopolisation of the Bulgarian title over the last decade has made them European regulars, although the Eagles have lost each of their last six knockout phase ties, aiming to break that streak.

They were ousted by Olimpija Ljubljana and Ajax in qualifiers during the summer, so ended up in this tournament again, coming second in Group H, only below Fenerbahçe on goal difference.

Since, Ivaylo Petev has been sacked as manager, with Georgi Dermendzhiev taking over, his third stint in charge, picking up the Bulgarian Supercup on Saturday.

Given that Ludogorets have won only three of their last 21 European away games, Servette are strong favourites to win in Geneva.

Sturm Graz vs Slovan Bratislava betting tips

Sturm Graz are competing in the knockout phase of a European competition for the first time ever, seeking to reach the round of 16 for the first time in four decades.

This is the third consecutive season in which die Schwoazn have featured in a group phase, but the first time they’d avoided coming bottom, only accumulating four points, but this enough to see them end up above Polish champions Raków Częstochowa by virtue of goal difference.

Meanwhile, Christian Ilzer’s team are second in the Austrian Bundesliga, just two points adrift serial champions RB Salzburg, so this should be quite the occasion at Liebenauer Stadium.

Slovan Bratislava have qualified for four group phases in the last five seasons, with their best run during this period coming 12 months ago, dumped out in the round of 16 of this tournament by Basel on penalties.

55 years ago, the Sky Blues actually won the Cup Winners’ Cup, defeating Barcelona 3-2 in the final, with Vladimír Weiss’ side dreaming of recapturing those former glories, as unlikely as that is.

The Slovakian champions came second in their Europa Conference League group, below Lille, so are now just hoping to leave Austria in a decent position, ahead of the return fixture at Tehelné pole.

Molde vs Legia Warsaw betting tips

Both Molde and Legia Warszawa will view this match-up as a golden opportunity for both to continue their respective European adventures.

The hosts finished down in fifth in the Eliteserien in 2023, a whopping 19 points below the champions, but salvaged their campaign by capturing the Norwegian Cup, beating Bodø/Glimt 1-0 back in December.

In Europe, Molde came third in their Europa League group, both wins coming against BK Häcken, so are now attempting to win a knockout phase tie for only the second time, after ousting Hoffenheim three years ago.

As for Legia Warsaw, they came second in their Europa Conference League section, winning four of six matches, most-notably prevailing 3-2 when Aston Villa visited Stadion Wojska Polskiego in September.

The Militarians have not featured in the last 16 of any UEFA competition since 1996 but, should Kosta Runjaić’s team leave Aker Stadion with a positive result, they’ll fancy their chances of changing this fact.

Maccabi Haifa vs Gent betting tips

Lastly, due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, both legs of this tie will be played behind-closed-doors, including the return fixture at Ghelamco Arena, scheduled for next Wednesday.

For obvious reasons, the Israeli Premier League has been massively disrupted this season, but games are going on with Maccabi Haifa top, seeking to retain their title.

In Europe meanwhile, the Greens only got to play one of their three group fixture in Haifa prior to the conflict, so did well to come third in their Europa League section, courtesy of a final matchday victory over Panathinaikos in Athens.

This first leg will be played at Bozsik Aréna in Budapest, in front of zero fans, thereby surely making Gent favourites to advance.

Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side though will not be underestimating their hosts because, despite winning four of six group matches, they were pipped to top spot by Israeli opposition, namely Maccabi Tel Aviv who beat them 3-1 in December.

De Buffalo’s did reach the quarter-finals of this competition just last season, eventually dumped out by West Ham, but this was Gent’s best European adventure since 1992, hoping for more of the same.