Europa League new format explained: Everything you need to know
The Europa League is back for 2024/25 – but there are several changes to this season’s competition that you will want to know about.
Europe’s secondary competition was once rebuffed as pointless by some of the continent’s big clubs, but recent successes and the bonus of the winners qualifying for the Champions League have added stature.
Manchester United and Tottenham are the two clubs from the Premier League in the tournament this year, and given a tight race to finish in the top four is expected, both will want to win this.
NEW TO PADDY POWER? PLACE A £5 BET ON SPORTS GET £20 IN FREE BETS!For the first time, there will be no group stage, with the 36 participants all competing in a single league phase.
Teams also don’t have to worry about big sides dropping down from the Champions League as this has been scrapped.
You can find all the latest Europa League odds on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise here’s a full breakdown of the new format.
The new format will see each side play eight games in the league phase – four at home and four away – against eight different opponents, two from each of the four seeded pots.
The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the last 16, with the sides ranked ninth to 24th competing in a play-off for their place in the round.
Any club finishing 25th or below will be eliminated from all European competitions.
Which teams have qualified for the Europa League?The following 13 sides have already booked their place in the league phase and will be joined by 23 qualifiers.
England: Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur Italy: Roma and Lazio Germany: Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim Spain: Real Sociedad and Altheltic Bilbao France: Lyon and Nice Portugal: Porto Netherlands: AZ Greece: Olympiacos What are the Europa League match dates?The league phase will last until January.
Matchday 1: 25/26 September, 2024 Matchday 2: 3 October, 2024 Matchday 3: 24 October, 2024 Matchday 4: 7 November, 2024 Matchday 5: 28 November, 2024 Matchday 6: 12 December, 2024 Matchday 7: 23 January, 2025 Matchday 8: 30 January, 2025
When are the Europa League knockout stages?Play-Offs: 13 & 20 February, 2025 Last 16: 6 & 13 March, 2025 Quarter-Finals: 10 & 17 April, 2025 Semi-Finals: 1 & 8 May, 2025 Final: 21 May, 2025
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