Man Utd handed Jose Mourinho reunion in Europa League and Chelsea face Shamrock Rovers in Conference
Manchester United have been handed a reunion with former manager Jose Mourinho, now in charge of Fenerbahce, and Rangers will face both United and Tottenham in the first stage of the new-look Europa League following the draw in Monaco.
The revamped format sees all 36 teams forming a single league, with each entrant playing four home games and four away.
The top eight teams from the league stage will go straight into the last-16 while a round of play-offs involving those finishing between ninth and 24th will decide the other eight places.
The full fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be announced on August 31, so as to ensure no calendar clashes with teams in the Champions League and Conference League playing in the same cities.
Chelsea’s reward for scraping past Servette in Europa Conference League qualifying are home matches against the likes of Shamrock Rovers and Armenian side Noah.
Europa League draw
Man Utd will face: Rangers, Porto, PAOK, Fenerbahce, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Twente and Steaua Bucharest
Tottenham will face: Rangers, Roma, AZ Alkmaar, Ferencvaros, Qarabag, Galatasaray, Elfsborg and Hoffenheim
Rangers will face: Tottenham, Manchester United, Lyon, Olympiacos, Union Saint-Gilloise, Malmo, Steaua Bucharest and Nice
Europa Conference League draw
Chelsea will face: Gent, Heidenheim, Astana, Shamrock, Panathinaikos and Noah
Europa League and Conference League draws: As they happened
02:41 PM BST
That’s all for now
Thanks for following our live coverage of the draws.
You can find a full rundown of yesterday’s Champions League draw and an explanation of how UEFA’s new ‘Swiss’ style system works here.
02:36 PM BST
Key dates
As with the Europa League, we won’t know the dates and times of each individual fixture until tomorrow, when they’ll be released in full.
For a general picture though, here are the dates of each Conference League matchday:
Matchday 1: October 3
Matchday 2: October 24
Matchday 3: November 7
Matchday 4: November 28
Matchday 5: December 12
Matchday 6: December 19
Knockout round play-offs: February 13 & 20, 2025
Round of 16: March 6 & 13, 2025
Quarter-finals: April 10 & 17, 2025
Semi-finals: May 1 & 8, 2025
Final: May 28, 2025 (Stadion Wroclaw, Poland)
02:32 PM BST
Another draw, but this time in green
02:25 PM BST
That concludes the draw
Perhaps even quicker than the Europa League draw earlier. We now have the full set of fixtures for this year’s Conference League.
Here’s a few key reminders:
Chelsea: Gent (H), Heidenheim (A), Astana (A), Shamrock Rovers (H), Panathinaikos (A), Noah (H)
Hearts: Copenhagen (A), Heidenheim (H), Omonoia (H), Cercle Brugge (A), Petrocub (H), Dinamo-Minsk (A)
The New Saints: Fiorentina (A), Djugarden (H), Astana (H), Shamrock Rovers (A), Panathinaikos (H), Celje (A)
Shamrock Rovers: Chelsea (A), APOEL (H), SK Rapid (A), The New Saints (H), Borac (H), Larne (A)
02:18 PM BST
Noah
Chelsea (A)
APOEL (H)
SK Rapid (A)
Mlada Boleslav (H)
TSC (A)
Vikingur R. (H)
02:17 PM BST
Vikingur Reykjavik
LASK (A)
Djugarden (H)
Omonoia (A)
Cercle Brugge (H)
Borac (H)
Noah (A)
02:16 PM BST
Larne
Gent (H)
Molde (A)
Olimpija (A)
Shamrock Rovers (H)
St. Gallen (H)
Dinamo-Minsk (A)
02:16 PM BST
Dinamo-Minsk
Copenhagen (H)
Legia Warsaw (A)
Helsinki (A)
Hearts (H)
Panathinaikos (A)
Larne (H)
02:15 PM BST
Celje
Real Betis (A)
Basaksehir (H)
Vitoria SC (A)
The New Saints (H)
Jagiellonia (H)
Pafos (A)
02:15 PM BST
Pafos
Fiorentina (A)
Heidenheim (H)
Astana (H)
Lugano (A)
Petrocub (A)
Celje (H)
02:14 PM BST
Jagiellonia
Copenhagen (A)
Molde (H)
Olimpija (H)
Mlada Boleslav (A)
Petrocub (H)
Celje (A)
02:13 PM BST
Petrocub
Real Betis (H)
Basaksehir (A)
SK Rapid (H)
Hearts (A)
Jagiellonia (A)
Pafos (H)
02:12 PM BST
Borac
LASK (H)
APOEL (A)
Omonoia (H)
Shamrock Rovers (A)
Panathinaikos (H)
Vikingur R. (A)
02:11 PM BST
TSC
Gent (A)
Legia Warsaw (H)
Astana (A)
Lugano (H)
St. Gallen (A)
Noah (H)
02:11 PM BST
Panathinaikos
Chelsea (H)
Djugarden (A)
Helsinki (A)
The New Saints (A)
Borac (A)
Dinamo-Minsk (H)
02:10 PM BST
St. Gallen
Fiorentina (H)
Heidenheim (A)
Vitoria SC (H)
Cercle Brugge (A)
TSC (H)
Larne (A)
02:09 PM BST
Lugano
Gent (H)
Legia Warsaw (A)
Helsinki (H)
Mlada Boleslav (A)
TSC (A)
Pafos (H)
02:08 PM BST
Mlada Boleslav
Real Betis (H)
Molde (A)
Vitoria SC (A)
Lugano (H)
Jagiellonia (H)
Noah (A)
02:08 PM BST
Hearts
Copenhagen (A)
Heidenheim (H)
Omonoia (H)
Cercle Brugge (A)
Petrocub (H)
Dinamo-Minsk (A)
02:07 PM BST
The New Saints
Fiorentina (A)
Djugarden (H)
Astana (H)
Shamrock Rovers (A)
Panathinaikos (H)
Celje (A)
02:05 PM BST
Shamrock Rovers
Chelsea (A)
APOEL (H)
SK Rapid (A)
The New Saints (H)
Borac (H)
Larne (A)
02:04 PM BST
Cercle Brugge
LASK (A)
Basaksehir (H)
Olimpija (A)
Hearts (H)
St. Gallen (A)
Vikingur R. (A)
02:03 PM BST
SK Rapid
Copenhagen (H)
Basaksehir (A)
Omonoia (A)
Shamrock Rovers (H)
Petrocub (A)
Noah (H)
02:02 PM BST
Vitoria SC
Fiorentina (H)
Djugarden (A)
Astana (A)
Mlada Boleslav (H)
St. Gallen (A)
Celje (H)
02:02 PM BST
Astana
Chelsea (H)
APOEL (A)
Vitoria SC (H)
The New Saints (A)
TSC (H)
Pafos (A)
02:01 PM BST
Omonoia
Gent (A)
Legia Warsaw (H)
SK Rapid (H)
Hearts (A)
Borac (A)
Vikingur R. (H)
02:00 PM BST
Olimpija Ljubljana
LASK (A)
Heidenheim (A)
Helsinki (A)
Cercle Brugge (H)
Jagiellonia (A)
Larne (H)
01:59 PM BST
Helsinki
Real Betis (A)
Molde (H)
Olimpija (H)
Lugano (A)
Panathinaikos (A)
Dinamo-Minsk (H)
01:58 PM BST
Heidenheim
Chelsea (H)
Basaksehir (A)
Olimpija (H)
Hearts (A)
St. Gallen (H)
Pafos (A)
01:57 PM BST
Molde
Gent (A)
APOEL (H)
Helsinki (A)
Mlada Boleslav (H)
Jagiellonia (A)
Larne (H)
01:57 PM BST
APOEL
Fiorentina (H)
Molde (A)
Astana (H)
Shamrock Rovers (A)
Borac (H)
Noah (A)
01:56 PM BST
Legia Warsaw
Real Betis (H)
Djugarden (A)
Omonoia (A)
Lugano (H)
TSC (A)
Dinamo-Minsk (H)
01:55 PM BST
Djugarden
LASK (A)
Legia Warsaw (H)
Vitoria SC (H)
The New Saints (A)
Panathinaikos (H)
VIkingur R. (A)
01:55 PM BST
Basaksehir
Copenhagen (A)
Heidenheim (H)
SK Rapid (H)
Cercle Brugge (A)
Petrocub (H)
Celje (A)
01:54 PM BST
LASK
Fiorentina (A)
Djugarden (H)
Olimpija (A)
Cercke Brugge (H)
Borac (A)
Vikingur R. (H)
01:52 PM BST
Real Betis
Copenhagen (H)
Legia Warsaw (A)
Helsinki (H)
Mlada Boleslav (A)
Petrocub (A)
Celje (H)
01:50 PM BST
Fiorentina
Lask (H)
Apoel (A)
Vitoria SC (A)
The New Saints (H)
St. Gallen (A)
Pafos (H)
01:50 PM BST
Copenhagen
Real Betis (A)
Basaksehir (H)
SK Rapid (A)
Hearts (H)
Jagiellonia (H)
Minsk (A)
01:48 PM BST
Chelsea
Gent (H)
Heidenheim (A)
Astana (A)
Shamrock Rovers (H)
Panathinaikos (A)
Noah (H)
01:47 PM BST
KAA Gent
Chelsea (A)
Molde (H)
Omonoia (H)
Lugano (A)
TSC (H)
Larne (A)
01:45 PM BST
Here comes the draw
36 teams, 6 pots, instant computer-generated fixtures. Here we go.
01:41 PM BST
Karembeu and Zewlakow are our special guests
Former French international Christian Karembeu comes up to the stage to help with the draw. He made 68 appearances for the reigning champions, Olympiacos.
Michal Zewlakow, another Olympiacos alumnus, has joined them. The final is due to be played in Wroclaw in his native Poland.
01:35 PM BST
Conference League draw gets started
Our second draw of the night is underway in Monaco. The fourth edition of the UEFA Conference League draw.
A reminder that Chelsea are in Pot One, so we should know right off the bat who they’ll be up against this year.
But before that, we’re taken back to the drama of last years’ campaign, where Olympiacos triumphed, having bested Aston Villa in the semi-final.
01:30 PM BST
Postecoglou returns to Scotland
The Tottenham Hotspur manager will be making a familiar journey back up to the Ibrox Stadium, the sight of many clashes between the Scottish giants and his former club Celtic.
He’ll be heading there with a decent track record against Rangers: 11 games, 6 wins, 2 draws, 3 defeats.
01:24 PM BST
Dan Ashworth reacts to Man Utd draw
"We've still got a few hours let's see what happens." 👀
Man Utd Sporting Director Dan Ashworth joins @Sports_EmmaD to assess the club's #UELdraw and chat deadline day… ⏳ pic.twitter.com/wdwT3SkV0e— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 30, 2024
01:16 PM BST
UEFA Conference League draw up next
The next draw will get started in about 15 minutes. This one will work ever so slightly differently as the 36 teams have been split into six pots instead of four.
Here is a look at those pots:
Pot One: Chelsea, Copenhagen, Gent, Fiorentina, LASK, Real Betis.
Pot Two: Istanbul Basaksehir, Molde, Legia Warsaw, Heidenheim, Djurgarden, APOEL Nicosia.
Pot Three: Rapid Vienna, Omonia Nicosia, HJK Helsinki, Vitoria, Astana, Olimpija Ljubljana.
Pot Four: Cercle Brugge, Shamrock Rovers, The New Saints, Lugano, Mlada Boleslav, Hearts.
Pot Five: Petrocub, St Gallen, Panathinaikos, TSC Backa Topola, Borac Banja Luka, Jagiellonia.
Pot Six: Celje, Larne, Dinamo Minsk, Pafos, Vikingur Reykjavik, Noah.
01:13 PM BST
The fourth and final Pot
✅ Home and away opponents for Pot 4 teams 🏡✈️#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/jL6rKGsSGT
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 30, 2024
01:12 PM BST
A closer look at Pot Three
✅ Home and away opponents for Pot 3 teams 🏡✈️#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/8FhxJuwvkp
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 30, 2024
01:11 PM BST
And the same for Pot Two
✅ Home and away opponents for Pot 2 teams 🏡✈️#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/WGblhkICbJ
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 30, 2024
01:11 PM BST
Finalised fixtures for Pot One
✅ Home and away opponents for Pot 1 teams 🏡✈️#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/RCjsL46sCn
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 30, 2024
01:09 PM BST
More button-pushing than whirling balls at the Grimaldi Forum
01:06 PM BST
When will we get the fixture dates?
Of course, solid dates are absent from these fixture lists. We’ll get all of that information on Saturday August 31.
We do already know when each matchday will fall, however:
Matchday 1: September 25/26
Matchday 2: October 3
Matchday 3: October 24
Matchday 4: November 7
Matchday 5: November 28
Matchday 6: December 12
Matchday 7: January 23, 2025
Matchday 8: January 30, 2025
Knockout round play-offs: February 13 & 20, 2025
Round of 16: March 6 & 13, 2025
Quarter-finals: April 10 & 17, 2025
Semi-finals: May 1 & 8, 2025
Final: May 21, 2025 (Estadio de San Mames, Bilbao, Spain)
01:03 PM BST
That concludes the draw
There we have it. A much speedier affair than usual thanks to the button that instantly generates the fixtures.
Manchester United have been handed a reunion with Jose Mourinho as they go away to his Turkish Super Lig club, Fenerbahce.
Spurs will face their toughest tests against Rangers and Roma.
And Rangers will have to play both of the above.
12:59 PM BST
Elfsborg
Roma (H)
Spurs (A)
Braga (H)
Alkmaar (A)
Qarabag (H)
Galatasaray (A)
Nice (H)
Athletic Bilbao (A)
12:59 PM BST
RFS
Ajax (H)
Frankfurt (A)
PAOK (H)
Tel-Aviv (A)
Galatasaray (H)
Kyiv (A)
Anderlecht (H)
FCSB (A)
12:58 PM BST
FCSB
Man Utd (H)
Rangers (A)
Olympiacos (H)
PAOK (A)
Midtjylland (H)
Qarabag (A)
RFS (H)
Hoffenheim (A)
12:57 PM BST
Besiktas
Frankfurt (H)
Ajax (A)
Tel-Aviv (H)
Lyon (A)
Malmo (H)
Bodo/Glimt (A)
Athletic Bilbao (H)
Twente (A)
12:56 PM BST
Twente
Lazio (H)
Man Utd (A)
Fenerbahce (H)
Olympiacos (A)
Union SG (H)
Malmo (A)
Besiktas (H)
Nice (A)
12:56 PM BST
Anderlecht
Porto (H)
Slavia Prague (A)
Ferencvaros (H)
Real Sociedad (A)
Ludogorets (H)
Viktoria Plzen (A)
Hoffenheim (H)
RFS (A)
12:55 PM BST
Nice
Rangers (H)
Lazio (A)
Real Sociedad (H)
Ferencvaros (A)
Bodo/Glimt (H)
Union SG (A)
Twente (H)
Elfsborg (A)
12:54 PM BST
Hoffenheim
Spurs (H)
Porto (A)
Lyon (H)
Braga (A)
Kyiv (H)
Midtjylland (A)
FCSB (H)
Anderlecht (A)
12:53 PM BST
Athletic Bilbao
Slavia Prague (H)
Roma (A)
Alkmaar (H)
Fenerbahce (A)
Viktoria Plzen (H)
Ludogorets (A)
Elfborg (H)
Besiktas (A)
12:53 PM BST
Malmo
Rangers (H)
Slavia Prague (A)
Olympiacos (H)
Ferencvaros (A)
Galatasaray (H)
Qarabag (A)
Twente (H)
Besiktas (A)
12:51 PM BST
Midtjylland
Frankfurt (H)
Porto (A)
Fenerbahce (H)
M. Tel-Aviv (A)
Union SG (H)
Ludogorets (A)
Hoffenheim (H)
FCSB (A)
12:50 PM BST
Ludogorets
Slavia Prague (H)
Lazio (A)
Alkmaar (H)
Lyon (A)
Midtjylland (H)
Viktoria Plzen (A)
Athletic Bilbao (H)
Anderlecht (A)
12:49 PM BST
Dynamo Kyiv
Lazio (H)
Roma (A)
Ferencvaros (H)
Real Sociedad (A)
Viktoria Plzen (H)
Glatasaray (A)
RFS (H)
Hoffenheim (A)
12:48 PM BST
Union SG
Roma (H)
Rangers (A)
Braga (H)
Fenerbahce (A)
Bodo/Glimt (H)
Midjylland (A)
Nice (H)
Twente (A)
12:47 PM BST
Bodo/Glimt
Porto (H)
Man Utd (A)
Tel-Aviv (H)
Braga (A)
Qarabag (H)
Union SG (A)
Besiktas (H)
12:46 PM BST
Viktoria Plzen
Man Utd (H)
Frankfurt (A)
Real Sociedad (H)
PAOK (A)
Ludogorets (H)
Kyiv (A)
Anderlecht (H)
Athletic Bilbao (A)
12:46 PM BST
Galatasaray
Spurs (H)
Ajax (A)
PAOK (H)
Alkmaar (A)
Kyiv (H)
Malmo (A)
Elfsborg (H)
RFS (A)
12:45 PM BST
Qarabag
Ajax (H)
Spurs (A)
Lyon (H)
Olympiacos (A)
Malo (H)
Bodo/Glimt (A)
FCSB (H)
Elfsborg (A)
12:44 PM BST
Ferencvaros
Spurs (H)
Frankfurt (A)
Alkmaar (H)
PAOK (A)
Malmo (H)
Kyiv (A)
Nice (H)
Anderlecht (A)
12:43 PM BST
M. Tel-Aviv
Porto (H)
Ajax (A)
Real Sociedad (H)
Braga (A)
Midtjylland (H)
Bodo/Glimt (A)
RFS (H)
Besiktas (A)
12:42 PM BST
Fenerbahce
Man Utd (H)
Slavia Prague (A)
Lyon (H)
Alkmaar (A)
Union SG (H)
Midtjylland (A)
Athletic Bilbao (H)
Twente (A)
12:41 PM BST
PAOK
Slavia Prague (H)
Man Utd (A)
Ferencvaros (H)
Real Sociedad (A)
Viktoria Plzen (H)
Galatasaraay (A)
FCSB (H)
RFS (A)
12:41 PM BST
Lyon
Frankfurt (H)
Rangers (A)
Olympiacos (H)
Fenerbache (A)
Ludogorets (H)
Qarabag (A)
Besiktas (H)
Hoffenheim (A)
12:40 PM BST
Olympiacos
Rangers (H)
Porto (A)
Braga (H)
Lyon (A)
Qarabag (H)
Malmo (A)
Twente (H)
FCSB (A)
12:39 PM BST
Braga
Lazio (H)
Roma (A)
Tel-Aviv (H)
Olympiacos (A)
Bodo/Glimt (H)
Union SG (A)
Hoffenheim (H)
Elfsborg (A)
12:38 PM BST
AZ Alkmaar
Roma (H)
Spurs (A)
Fenerbache (H)
Ferencvaros (A)
Galatasaraay (H)
Ludogorets (A)
Elfsborg (H)
Athletic Bilbao (A)
12:37 PM BST
Real Sociedad
Ajax (H)
Lazio (A)
PAOK (H)
Tel-Aviv (A)
Kyiv (H)
Viktoria Plzen (A)
Anderlecht (H)
Nice (A)
12:34 PM BST
Slavia Prague
Ajax (H)
Frankfurt (A)
Fenerbache (H)
PAOK (A)
Malmo (H)
Ludogorets (A)
Anderlecht (H)
Athletic Club (A)
12:34 PM BST
Lazio
Porto (H)
Ajax (A)
Real Sociedad (H)
Braga (A)
Ludogorets (H)
Kyiv (A)
Nice (H)
Twente (A)
12:33 PM BST
Ajax
Lazio (H)
Slavia Prague (A)
Macabi Tel-Aviv (H)
Real Sociedad (A)
Galatasaray (H)
Qarabag (A)
Besiktas (H)
RFS (A)
12:32 PM BST
Porto
Manchester United (H)
Lazio (A)
Olympiacos (H)
Macabi Tel-Aviv (A)
Midtjylland (H)
Bodo/Glimt (A)
Hoffemheim (H)
Anderlecht (A)
12:30 PM BST
Frankfurt
Slavia Prague (H)
Roma (A)
Ferencvaros (H)
Lyon (A)
Victoria Plzen (H)
Midtjylland (A)
RFS (H)
Besiktas (A)
12:29 PM BST
Roma’s UEL fixtures
Frankfurt (H)
Tottenham (A)
Braga (H)
AZ Alkmaar (A)
Kyiv (H)
Union Saint-Gilloise (A)
Athletic Club (H)
Elfsborg (A)
12:24 PM BST
Tottenham Hotspurs’ Europa League fixtures
Roma (H)
Rangers (A)
AZ Alkmaar (H)
Ferencvaros (A)
Qarabag (H)
Galatasaraay (A)
Elfsborg (H)
Hoffenheim (A)
12:23 PM BST
Manchester United’s draw
Rangers (H)
Porto (A)
PAOK (H)
Fenerbache (A)
Bodo (H)
Viktoria Plzen (A)
FC Twente (H)
FCSB (A)
12:18 PM BST
Rangers first club drawn
Rangers are the first club out of the pot.
A button is pressed to reveal these fixtures:
Spurs (H)
Man Utd (A)
Lyon (H)
Olympiacos (A)
Union SG (H)
Malmo (A)
FCSB (H)
OGC Nice (A)
12:17 PM BST
Man Utd, Rangers and Spurs coming up in Pot One
And we’re off.
12:16 PM BST
A few minutes to go
While they review the very dull technical procedures of this new-look draw, which has just been described as a system that will bring us a ‘more dynamic’ and ‘competitive’ tournament this year.
Here’s a reminder of the pots, we’ll start with Pot One.
The pots are confirmed ✅#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/1mEmoRETrM
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 30, 2024
12:12 PM BST
A final in Bilbao
Former Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz is the next to head up onto the stage. He is here to sing the praises of the city, which is hosting the final.
Aritz Aduriz 🔴⚪️
🏆 Who will lift the trophy in Bilbao?#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/l20MsKBGyU— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 30, 2024
12:08 PM BST
Atalanta legend Stromberg is the first guest out
And here’s our first guest. Atalanta legend Glenn Stromberg trots out with the gigantic Europa League trophy.
The Swede moved to the club in 1984 after netting three goals for Sweden against Italy at that year’s Euros. All was resolved and he ended up playing 219 times for Atalanta, scoring 18 times.
12:04 PM BST
We’re underway in Monaco
We start with a look back at last season’s Europa League, where Atalanta triumphed. We’ll shortly be introduced to the special guests and the pomp will get into full swing.
12:00 PM BST
Will changes make Europa League more exciting?
More of a revolution than a revamp. From this season, the competition will adopt the ‘Swiss Model’. There will be one league of 36 teams. Each team will be drawn to play eight matches against different opponents, half at home and half away.
Uefa will trot out the usual line about evolving the competition. But the bottom line is that there are four more teams in the group stages and each club gets two more games. More TV broadcasting money, more gate receipts and more supporters travelling across the continent.
The format does allow for more big-hitters playing each other in the new league-style group stage. But the top eight will automatically qualify for the round of 16, so they could secure a place early and then rest big players for important matches at the weekend. Those finishing between ninth and 24th go into two-legged play-offs. So every place counts. But if a team cannot finish in the top eight, does it matter too much who they face in the play-offs? The battle for 24th will be exciting.
11:55 AM BST
UEFA’s big three on display in Monaco
11:42 AM BST
Chelsea scrape into Conference League despite loss to Servette
Chelsea are featuring in today’s Conference League draw despite making hard work of a messy loss away to Servette in Geneva.
Christopher Nkunku put Chelsea ahead from a penalty after 14 minutes, as he had in the first leg and everything seemed set fair for a straightforward passage into the next phase.
But Servette striker Jeremy Guillemenot levelled against the run of play before the interval, and substitute Enzo Crivelli headed the hosts in front on the night after 72 minutes. Chelsea had chances to settle their nerves, but in the end they were relieved to hear the final whistle.
11:36 AM BST
1999 winner Gigi Buffon returns for the Europa draw
Buffon, 1999 winner 🏆#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/fB5h4myPC0
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 30, 2024
11:34 AM BST
The four Europa League pots confirmed
Pot One: AS Roma, Manchester United, Porto, Ajax, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lazio, Tottenham, Slavia Prague.
Pot Two: Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar, Braga, Olympiakos, Lyon, PAOK, Fenerbahce, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ferencvaros.
Pot Three: Qarabag, Galatasaray, Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt, Union SG, Dynamo Kyiv, Ludogorets, Midtjylland, Malmo.
Pot Four: Athletic Club, Hoffenheim, Nice, Anderlecht, Twente, Besiktas, FK RFS, Steaua Bucharest, Elfsborg.
11:26 AM BST
Europa and Conference league in revamped Swiss-style ‘draw’
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Europa league and UEFA Conference League phase draws. Man Utd, Spurs and Rangers will feature in the former, which gets underway at midday. Chelsea and Hearts are among those involved in the latter, taking place just after at around 1.30pm.
In the new ‘Swiss model format’, the Europa League has been expanded to 36 teams, all of the clubs will compete against each other in one big league table rather than eight groups of four. Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away, with two opponents drawn from each of the four pots.
In the Conference League though, each side will face six different teams (three home games, three away) as the boosted 36 teams have been split into six pot.
In both tournaments, the top eight in the league qualify automatically for the knockout stages, while the teams finishing in ninth to 24th place will compete in a two-legged play-off to secure a place in the last 16.
As was the case with yesterday’s Champions League draw, the new system simply involves too many multiples and permutations to be done manually using bowls full of Uefa-branded, star-spangled plastic balls.
Instead, each of 36 teams will have one ball in the bowl. Each of the Pot One teams will be drawn out first, before their fixtures are spat out by a supercomputer. These will be displayed on a screen for the audience to see. With the teams in Pot Two already aware of their Pot One opponents, they will be drawn out of the bowl and their remaining six fixtures revealed. And so on, through to the last Pot.