The Europa League draw will feature its new league phase format for the first time (Image: Getty)
The UEFA Europa League draw takes place on Friday, August 30, as Manchester United and Tottenham prepare to find out which eight teams they will face in the new League Phase.
UEFA’s major changes to the format of the Europa League come into force in time for the 2024-25 campaign. Unlike in previous editions of the competition, clubs will not face each other twice. Participants will also play two extra matches, taking the previous total from six to eight in the league phase.
All 36 teams will be manually drawn using physical balls and then a designated automated software will randomly draw eight opponents from Pots 1 to 4. United and Spurs are the two English representatives in the Europa League draw, while Chelsea await their fate in the UEFA Conference League draw shortly afterwards.
Join Express Sport for live updates from the UEFA Europa League and Conference draw in Monaco.
San Mames to host Europa League final
The 2024-25 Europa League final will be hosted at one of football’s finest venues, the Estadio de San Mames.
The home of Athletic Bilbao set the scene for the Women’s Champions League final last season and the 53,289-seater arena will be used again for its first major men’s final.
It would be a special achievement for the Basque club if they could reach the final to play in their own stadium. But Manchester United and Tottenham might have something to say about that.
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When will the fixtures be played?
League phase
MD1: September 25-26, 2024
MD2: October 3, 2024
MD3: October 24, 2024
MD4: November 7, 2024
MD5: November 28, 2024
MD6: December 12, 2024
MD7: January 23, 2025
MD8: January 30, 2025
Play-offs: February 13 and February 20, 2025
R16: March 6 and March 13, 2025
QFS: April 10 and April 17, 2025
SFs: May 1 and May 8, 2025
Final: May 21, 2025
How AI will help determine fixtures
Just as it did in the Champions League draw on Thursday, the Europa League draw will be assisted by an AI supercomputer, which will help conduct the draw to choose the eight fixtures for the 36 teams.
It has been programmed to include different variables, such as preventing teams from the same nation facing each other in the league phase.
UEFA have assured clubs there is no possibility of the system being manipulated, with extra security measures in place to guard against potential cyberattacks.
Confirmed Pots: Man Utd and Spurs in Pot 1
Pot 1: AS Roma, MANCHESTER UNITED, Porto, Ajax, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lazio, TOTTENHAM, Slavia Prague
Pot 2: Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar, Braga, Olympiacos, Lyon, PAOK, Fenerbahce, Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC, Ferencvaros
Pot 3: Qarabag FK, Galatasaray, Viktoria Plzen,Bodo/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise, Dynamo Kyiv, Ludogorets, FC Midtjylland, Malmo
Pot 4: Athletic Bilbao, Hoffenheim, OGC Nice, Anderlecht, FC Twente, Besiktas, FCSB, FC Rigas Futbol Skola, Elfsborg
The new league phase and how it works
UEFA have introduced a brand new league phase format to replace the group stage.
All league phase matches are played with each club plays eight opponents in single-leg ties. Each club has four home and four away matches to play.
Teams are drawn from four pots – Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 3 and Pot 4 – with two clubs from each pot.
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to Express Sport’s LIVE coverage of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League draws.
Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea will learn their fate today for the brand new league phase format, which we will explain in a few moments.
Stay tuned for live updates from the draw in Monaco.
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Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1942255/Europa-League-draw-LIVE-Man-Utd-Tottenham