UEFA Conference League 2025/26: Every Performance of the Week winner

Thrilling performances and stunning results help emerging talents and teams come to the fore in the UEFA Conference League.

The most impressive from each matchday earn recognition in the Performance of the Week vote, powered by Laufenn, which celebrates the table-turning upsets, the record-breaking victories and the statement wins from sides who are daring to dream.

Here is every Performance of the Week winner.

Matchday 1: AEK Larnaca 4-0 AZ Alkmaar

Having reached the round of 16 in the Conference League in the 2022/23 season, AEK Larnaca made a triumphant return to this tournament by comfortably defeating semi-finalists from that campaign, AZ Alkmaar, with a scintillating attacking display in Cyprus. Despite a notable difference in recent European coefficients (96 to 37), Larnaca imposed themselves throughout and finished the night having created 20 chances to their opponents' five.

After AZ's Alexandre Penetra was sent off early on the hosts took full advantage, Waldo Rubio firing home from close range in the 25th minute before Riad Bajić headed in a second after half-time. Djordje Ivanović's side-footed finish and Marcus Rohdén's thunderous strike added gloss to the victory.

Matchday 2: Lincoln Red Imps 2-1 Lech Poznań

Lincoln Red Imps lost all six of their games in their maiden Conference League campaign in 2021/22 by an aggregate score of 17-2, and had cause to fear worse was to come as they opened their second league phase campaign with a 5-0 loss at Zrinjski. While their Matchday 2 visitors Lech Poznań controlled much of the game, registering more attempts on goal (21 to 12) and producing the higher expected goals figure (3.25 to 0.84), Lincoln's ability to stay in the contest and strike at key moments ultimately proved decisive.

Goals from Kike Gómez and Christian Rutjens secured the Gibraltarian side a first-ever league phase win. "It was a magical night," said Rutjens, who headed their 88th-minute winner. "I feel proud of every one of my team-mates. This shows we can raise our game, that we can fight and achieve what we want."

Matchday 3: Mainz 2-1 Fiorentina

Jaesung Lee headed the winner deep into added time as Mainz came from behind to defeat Fiorentina, protecting their perfect record while dealing the Viola their first loss of the campaign. With the two clubs separated by a notable coefficient gap (Mainz 133, Fiorentina 22), Mainz overturned an early deficit to take all three points.

The visitors were the first to strike at Mainz Arena, Simon Sohm powering home in the 16th minute, but ceded their lead in the second half as, in the goalscorer's view, "We weren't good enough at the decisive moments".

Benedict Hollerbach provided the first of those decisive moments in the second half, rolling in on 68 minutes to draw the hosts level before Lee converted Kaishu Sano's cross in the fifth minute of added time. The matchwinner spoke of a "wonderful" feeling while coach Bo Henriksen celebrated the show of character: "I'm very proud of how we came back in the second half. I'm proud of the courage, power and energy we showed."

Matchday 4: Fiorentina 0-1 AEK Athens

New coach Paolo Vanoli oversaw two encouraging Serie A draws in his first two games in charge of Fiorentina, but his positive streak did not extend to European competition, as AEK Athens got maximum value from Mijat Gaćinović's 35th-minute finish in Florence. The visitors rode their luck at times, but defended resolutely and maintained a significant threat on the counterattack.

"We pressed high from the start and kept them under pressure," said goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha. "[Fiorentina] threatened from corners, but we defended solidly and deserved the win." That approach was reflected in the data, AEK recovering possession 39 times to Fiorentina's 31 and limiting the hosts to just three shots on target – their lowest return of the league phase.

Goalscorer Gaćinović added: "We worked hard to prepare for this match. It's not easy to perform at your best against a team like Fiorentina, both offensively and defensively, but I believe today we executed the game plan perfectly."

Matchday 5: Shkëndija 2-0 Slovan Bratislava

Victory against Slovakia's Slovan ensured that North Macedonian champions Shkëndija finished the league phase unbeaten at home (W2 D1) and with hope of qualifying for the knockout phase. "We have not yet secured a springtime European place," said coach Jeton Beqiri. "But I am hopeful."

His optimism may be well founded given the confident manner in which they undid Slovan. Liridon Latifi met a corner and forced Kenan Bajrić to head into his own net on 33 minutes before left-back Ronaldo Webster teed up Sebastjan Spahiu for the second in first-half added time. Shkëndija looked calm after the interval and struck the crossbar through Fiton Ademi.

Shkëndija's control was reflected in the underlying numbers, restricting Slovan to an expected goals total of just 0.32 and no shots on target across the contest. "It was a very good performance," said Beqiri. Hard to disagree.

Matchday 6: Lausanne-Sport 1-0 Fiorentina

Lausanne-Sport sealed their knockout phase place in style as Gabriel Sigua's 58th-minute effort, part of a fine second-half display, inspired them to victory against two-time finalists Fiorentina. "They saw in the first half that it was possible to beat Fiorentina and not only play on their level, but even aim a little bit higher," beamed coach Peter Zeidler at full time.

Lausanne-Sport spent more time threatening in advanced areas, recording 33 touches in the opposition box to Fiorentina's 17 and generating the higher expected goals total (1.42 to 0.58). The Swiss side had never beaten an Italian team in eight previous meetings, giving an added sweetness to a victory that secured a ninth-placed finish for the competition debutants. Zeidler's charges finished with a record of three wins, two draws and one loss.