Europa League 2024/25: New Format, Fixtures, and What to Expect
The Europa League is back for the 2024/25 season, and it’s making headlines with a significant overhaul to its format. Europe’s second-tier competition, often dismissed by big clubs in the past, has grown in stature thanks to the promise of a coveted Champions League spot for the winner. With Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur representing the Premier League this season, the stakes are higher than ever.
The most notable change this year is the removal of the traditional group stage. Instead, all 36 participating teams will compete in a single league phase. Each club will play eight games—four at home and four away—against different opponents drawn from four seeded pots. This new system eliminates the potential for stronger teams dropping into the tournament from the Champions League, leveling the playing field.
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The league standings will be critical. The top eight teams at the end of the phase will advance directly to the round of 16. Meanwhile, teams ranked 9th to 24th will face off in a play-off round for a spot in the knockout stages. Clubs finishing 25th or lower will bid farewell to European competition for the season.
The league phase runs from September 25, 2024, to January 30, 2025, with matchdays spread across eight dates. The knockout rounds, including the play-offs, last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, will take place between February and May 2025, culminating in the final on May 21, 2025, in Bilbao, Spain.
Among the teams to watch are heavyweights like Ajax, Roma, and Porto, alongside underdogs such as Bodø/Glimt and RFS from Latvia. This diversity promises an exciting mix of styles and stories.
As the tournament unfolds, fans can expect thrilling clashes, unexpected upsets, and the possibility of new heroes emerging. It’s a long road to Bilbao, but for one team, it will be a journey worth every step.
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