The UEFA Europa League draw for the 2024-2025 season, held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 30, 2024, has unveiled the opponents for participating teams, including Turkish clubs Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş. This draw marks the introduction of a new league format featuring 36 teams, replacing the traditional group stage.Under this new system, each team will face 8 different opponents, playing 4 matches at home and 4 away. Fenerbahçe’s opponents include Manchester United, Slavia Prague, Lyon, AZ Alkmaar, Union Saint-Gilloise, Midtjylland, Athletic Bilbao, and Twente. Galatasaray will compete against Tottenham, Ajax, PAOK, AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Kiev, Malmö, Elfsborg, and RFS. Beşiktaş’s lineup features Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Lyon, Malmö, Bodo/Glimt, Athletic Bilbao, and Twente.The new format aims to increase competitiveness and excitement in the tournament. The top 8 teams will directly qualify for the round of 16, while teams ranked 9-24 will compete in play-offs for the remaining spots. Teams finishing below 24th place will be eliminated from European competition.The Europa League schedule spans from September 25, 2024, to January 23, 2025, comprising seven matchdays. The final is set to take place on May 21, 2025, at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.UEFA officials have expressed enthusiasm for the new format, stating, ‘This new format will bring more excitement and unpredictability to the competition. We are looking forward to a thrilling season’. The changes are expected to create more high-stakes matches and potentially increase the tournament’s overall appeal to fans and participating clubs alike.
Key points
- The UEFA Europa League draw for 2024-2025 season introduced a new 36-team league format, replacing the traditional group stage.
- Turkish clubs Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş learned their opponents for the upcoming season.
- Each team will play 8 matches (4 home, 4 away) in the new format.
- The top 8 teams qualify directly for the round of 16, while teams ranked 9-24 compete in play-offs.
- The Europa League final will be held on May 21, 2025, at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
