The first day of the league of the new Europa League It closed this Thursday with the well-deserved 1-1 of the Athletic before the Rome in the duel played in the Olympic Stadium. Last Wednesday, the Royal Societythe other representative of LaLiga Spanish in this tournament, also tied 1 goal on their visit to Nice.
The 2024-25 campaign will be the 54th season of this club competition, the 16th since it was renamed UEFA Cup to Europa League, and the first with the new format. The biggest change affects the group stage, which becomes a single league phase of 36 teams and eight days (the last one on January 30, 2025). The countries with the most representatives (3) are Netherlands (Ajax, AZ and Twente) and Türkiye (Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahçe).
Each team will face eight different opponents (four at home and four away). The top eight overall go directly to round of 16 (March 6 and 13, 2025); The teams that finish from 9th to 24th will compete in the play-off knockout round (February 13 and 20, 2025), and the winners will advance to the round of 16. The clubs that finish the league between 25th and 36th places will be eliminated.
The quarter finals They will be played on April 10 and 17, 2025; the semi-finals on May 1 and 8, 2025, and the grand finale will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 in San Mamés (Bilbao)a great incentive for the lions because it is their home and also for their Gipuzkoan neighbors from the Real Sociedad.
Results of the 1st day of the Europa League
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
AZ Alkmaar (PB)-Elfsborg (SUE) 3-2
Bodö/Glimt (NOR)-Porto (POR) 3-2
Anderletch (BEL)-Ferencvaros (HUN) 2-1
Dinamo kyiv (UCR)-Lazio (ITA) 0-3
Midtjylland (DIN)-Hoffenheim (ALE) 1-1
Galatasaray (TUR)-PAOK (GRE) 3-1
Ludogorets (BUL)-Slavia Prague (CHE) 0-2
ManUnited (ING)-Twente (PB) 1-1
Nice (FRA)-R. Society (ESP) 1-1
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Fenerbahçe (TUR)-Saint-Gilloise (BEL) 2-1
Malmö (SUE)-Rangers (ESC) 0-2
Ajax (PB)-Besiktas (TUR) 4-0
Eintracht (ALE)-Viktoria Plzen (CHE) 3-3
Basel (SUI)-Rigas (LET) 4-1
Lyon (FRA)-Olympiacos (GRE) 2-0
Rome (ITA)-Athletic (ESP) 1-1
Braga (POR)-Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) 2-1
Tottenham (ING)-Qarabag (AZE)