UEFA Europa League 2024/2025, all matches

The UEFA Europa League is the second most important European club football tournament, organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The tournament was founded in 1971 under the name UEFA Cup and became the successor to the Fairs Cup. In 2009, it was renamed the Europa League and received a new format, including a group stage and a playoff.

The Europa League is attended by teams that have finished high in their national championships, but have not qualified for the Champions League. The tournament also includes the winners of national cups and teams eliminated from the qualifying rounds of the Champions League. The Europa League provides an opportunity for clubs to prove themselves on the international stage and win a prestigious trophy.

The tournament format includes a group stage and a playoff. The group stage includes 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of 4 teams. Each team plays 6 matches - three at home and three away. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32, where they are joined by the eight teams that finished third in their Champions League groups. The knockout stages consist of knockout matches, starting from the Round of 32 and ending with the final.

An interesting fact is that Sevilla holds the record for the most Europa League wins, having won the competition six times. Other successful clubs include Inter Milan, Juventus and Atletico Madrid. The Europa League also provides the winner with an automatic place in the group stage of the following season’s Champions League, which adds an extra incentive for teams.

The financial side of the Europa League plays an important role in the development of clubs. Winning the tournament brings significant prize money, as well as income from television rights and sponsorship contracts. This allows clubs to improve their infrastructure, attract new players and increase their competitiveness at a national and international level.

The Europa League is also known for its dramatic matches and unexpected outcomes. The tournament often becomes the scene of sensations, with lesser-known clubs beating favourites, making the competition particularly exciting for fans. Many matches are tense and are decided in the last minutes.

The Europa League final is usually held at a neutral venue, chosen by UEFA several years in advance. This gives the tournament an extra level of prestige and attracts fans from all over the world. The finals are often epic events, with teams demonstrating the highest level of football.

The introduction of a new format in 2009 made the Europa League more attractive and competitive. The group stage allowed more teams to participate in the tournament and demonstrate their abilities on the international stage. The play-offs added an element of surprise and spectacle, which attracted new fans and increased interest in the tournament.

The Europa League continues to develop and remains an important part of the European football calendar. Each year the tournament attracts more and more attention, offering exciting matches and the opportunity for clubs to win a prestigious trophy. Regardless of the outcome, the Europa League remains an important stage in the history of football and provides clubs with a unique opportunity to show themselves on the international stage.