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All you need to know about UEFA Europa League

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History of the UEFA Europa League

Created in 1971 for the qualified clubs, based on their performance in their respective national leagues and cup results. Now it’s sitting behind the UEFA Champions League and above the Conference League. Though from 1971 to 1999, the UEFA Europa League is considered a third-rated league since the creation of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Since the 2004-05 season, the competition included a group stage prior to the knock-out stage. The UEFA Cup merged with the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2009, resulting in an expansion of the league and changing the qualification rules. 

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UEFA Europa League

Qualification rounds:

Explanation of the Group stage

The teams are drawn together to compete in a double round-robin system. Winners net 3 points for themselves, 1 for both teams participating in a draw, and no points for the loser. The group winners advance to the Round 32 league. Tie-breaker happens according to the rules by the UEFA listed below: 

1. Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question.

2. Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question.

3. higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question.

4. Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question.

If after having applied criteria 1. through 4., teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1. through 4. are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 5. through 12. apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal.

5. Superior goal difference in all group matches.

6. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches.

7. Higher number of away goals scored in all group matches.

8. Higher number of wins in all group matches.

9. Higher number of away wins in all group matches.

10. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points).

11. Higher club coefficient.

The Knock-out phase:

Before the Round of 32 starts, the official will host a drawing of the groups. Then the 32 remaining teams are split into two pots of 16, one contains 8 teams who placed third place from the group stage who will be paired with 8 winners from the group stage. Whilst the second pot is filled with the four lowest placed Europa League group winners and the runners-up.

Then they draw one from each pot to decide the pairing, as long as a winner and a runner-up of the same group is not matched with each other and clubs from the same domestic league are not matched.

The Round of 16, quarterfinal, and semi-final draws do not split groups into pots. Meaning that they can be paired despite their placing in the group prior, or whether they played in the same group, or comes from the same domestic league. Even though the draws for both the quarterfinal and semi-final happens at the same time before the quarterfinal is played, the semi-finalist is not decided at the time of the draw. 

The away goal rule:

The rule is applied when the aggregate score is equal after both matches or “legs”. The club that scores more goals away from their home turf is qualified for the next round. If the score is still even, 30 minutes of extra time is added, which is split into 2 halves, 15 minutes each. A penalty shoot-out is the last resort of the score of the match.

The final is decided in 1 match only and is played on neutral ground. Applying the extra time and penalty shoot-out rule.

Scheduling of the UEFA League

June-August: Qualification

• Late August: Group Stage Draw
• September-December: Group Stage Matchdays
• Mid-December: Round of 32 Draw
• February: Round of 32
• Late February: Round of 16 Draw
• March: Round of 16
• Mid-March: Quarterfinal and Semifinal Draws
• April: Quarterfinals
• May: Semifinals
• Late May: Final 

The cup

Generally known as the UEFA Cup, the trophy is awarded to the winner of the UEFA Europa League and is expected to return to the UEFA after one year.

Prize

• Qualified to group stage: €3,630,000
• Match won in group stage: €630,000
• Match drawn in group stage: €210,000
• 1st in group stage: €1,100,000
• 2nd in group stage: €550,000
• Knockout round play-offs: €500,000
• Round of 16: €1,200,000
• Quarter-final: €1,800,000
• Semi-final: €2,800,000
• Runner-up: €4,600,000
• Champion: €8,600,000

Clubs with most Europa League wins:

FAQs

How many substitutions are allowed in the Europa League? 

5 substitutions are allowed per Europa League match

What is the difference between UEFA and Europa?

Europa League - The UEFA Europa League is a tournament for teams that did not make the UEFA Champions League by finishing in the required spots in their respective leagues. For example in England, teams that finish after the first four teams can go to the Europa League. That is the teams that finish at 5th and 6th.

Where is the neutral stadium that hosts the Europa Final in 2022?

The Europa Final is hosted in Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville. 

Sources

• https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/
• https://www.agonasport.com/intlsoccer-europaleague-format#
• https://www.skysports.com/europa-league-fixtures