A NEW FORMAT
The 2024/25 season sees the introduction of a new “Swiss-style” tournament format across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, so our first interaction with the system will be in Wednesday’s Old Trafford bout against Twente.
All the clubs that have earned a Europa League place go into one 36-team league table, as opposed to separate groups, as it was before. Teams will then play eight fixtures — four at home, four away — against different teams rather than playing the same side both home and away in a group stage.
Participants will then receive the traditional three points for a win and one for a draw to decide their place in the table.
Teams placed first to eighth in the table will automatically advance to the knockout stage, while teams from ninth to 24th will play a two-legged play-off to decide who advances to the next round. Teams placed 25th and below will be eliminated.
Following the group stage, the tournament will then look similar to the more familiar knockout stages of European competitions in previous seasons.