The Europa League is changing its format for its 2024-2025 season. Nice and Lyon are the two French teams qualified for this 54th edition. Calendar, results and ranking… Follow the competition.
The 2024-2025 Europa League, which has been scheduled to start on Wednesday, September 25, is a completely revamped edition of the competition, with UEFA having decided to increase the number of teams from 32 to 36. Gone is the traditional group stage, replaced by a single league where each team will face 8 different opponents (4 at home, 4 away), according to a draw, similar to the changes made in the Champions League. At the end of this first phase, until January 30, 2025, the top eight in this single league will qualify directly for the round of 16 of the Europa League. The teams ranked from 9th to 24th place will play play-offs to reach the round of 16. Beyond this 24th place, it is a pure and simple elimination that awaits the lowest-placed teams.
The Europa League play-offs have been scheduled for January 31, February 16 and 20, 2025. The round of 16 on March 6 and 13, then the quarter-finals on April 10 and 17, the semi-finals on May 1 and 8 and the final on May 21, 2025, in Bilbao. Another notable difference with previous editions: no team that has come out of the Champions League will be entering this Europa League. Good news for the participating clubs who have had the trophy stolen five times by clubs from the C1 in recent years.
With 36 teams and 144 matches to play, this new format aims to offer a longer and more intense “league phase”. The French teams will have a lot to do in this great and high-level championship, but can nourish great ambitions.
Nice and Lyon to represent France
On the French side, OGC Nice, 5th in Ligue 1 last season, are back in the Europa League four years after their last participation. The Aiglons drew a home game to start their campaign against Real Sociadad on Wednesday, September 25. A big start nonetheless for Didier Digard’s men, who then took on Lazio Rome (away), Ferencvaros (away), Twente (home), Glasgow Rangers (home), Union Saint-Gilloise (away), Elfsborg (away) and Bodo/Glimt (home).
For its part, Olympique Lyonnais, 6th in Ligue 1 in 2023-2024, is making its return to the Europa League after a season of absence. The Rhone club also inherited a home match on Thursday, September 26 for its entry into the competition, againstOlympiakosfollowed by Ludogorets, Frankfurt and Besiktas. Lyon’s trips will be to Glasgow, Fenerbahçe, Qarabag and Hoffenheim.
Among the other matches, Manchester United and AS Roma, two contenders for the final victory were drawn from the first day. Eintracht Frankfurt, winner in 2022, was subjected to a trip to FC Porto in another top-of-the-table match.
What is the schedule for the 2023-2024 Europa League?
Each day of the Europa League has 18 matches according to a draw made in August. Here is the schedule of the next matches:
The results of the last matches
Check out the latest results available for the 2024-2025 Europa League below. Scores are updated at the end of each matchday. :
Europa League standings
The so-called “league” phase has been scheduled from September 25, 2024 to January 30, 2025 in a single pool of 36 teams. The first eight teams are automatically qualified for the round of 16, the next eight for the play-offs. Follow the evolution of the Europa League ranking and search for a team in the search engine to discover the details:
On which TV channel can you watch the Europa League in France?
While RMC Sport and M6 have been co-broadcasters of the competition in recent years, UEFA has awarded the French TV rights for the 2024-2025 Europa League to Canal+. The matches are therefore broadcast this season on CANAL+. CANAL+, CANAL+ FOOT, CANAL+ SPORT, CANAL+ SPORT360 as well as the 18 CANAL+ LIVE TV channels.