Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have recently learned their fixtures for the revamped Europa League. The draw, conducted on August 30, 2024, revealed significant matchups for both clubs.
Manchester United will face a reunion with former manager Jose Mourinho and ex-midfielder Fred as they are set to play against Fenerbahce. This matchup will see United travel to Turkey, where Mourinho now manages. United’s group stage will also include trips to Porto, Viktoria Plzen, and Twente, as well as home matches against PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, and FCSB.
Tottenham Hotspur, under the management of Ange Postecoglou, will navigate a challenging group stage. They will face Turkish giants Galatasaray and German side Hoffenheim, alongside a match against Hungarian team Ferencvaros. At home, Tottenham will host Roma, AZ Alkmaar, Qarabag, and Elfsborg. Postecoglou, who previously managed Celtic, has humorously anticipated a “warm reception” from Rangers fans when Spurs travel to Glasgow.
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The Europa League has introduced a new format this season. All 36 participating teams will compete in a single league phase, playing eight matches. At the end of this phase, the top eight teams will advance directly to the last 16. The teams finishing ninth to 24th will enter a play-off round to determine the remaining eight spots in the knockout stage. The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated from European competition entirely. Notably, no Champions League teams will drop into the Europa League this season, a change from previous years.
Manchester United qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup, as their league performance last season did not secure a European spot. Tottenham secured their place by finishing fifth in the Premier League. The final of this season’s Europa League will be held in Bilbao on May 21, 2025.
The new Europa League format introduces a more extensive group stage than in previous seasons. The league phase features all 36 teams playing eight matches each. This structure is designed to ensure that teams face a variety of opponents of similar difficulty, providing a more balanced and competitive group stage.
After the league phase, the top eight teams in the standings will advance directly to the last 16. The teams finishing in positions ninth through 24th will enter a play-off round to secure their places in the knockout stages. The bottom 12 teams, however, will be eliminated from European competition for the rest of the season. This new format aims to enhance the competitive nature of the tournament and ensure that only the most successful teams progress further.
The knockout phase of the Europa League remains consistent with past seasons, with the same structure for the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Final. The changes in the group stage are expected to bring more excitement and challenge to the competi
