UEFA Europa League

Competition Format

• A rebranding of the tournament took place in 2009, and a new name, the UEFA Europa League was introduced.
• A total of 48 teams plays in 12 groups of four in the first stage, first two teams from each group go to the second round. They are joined at this juncture by the eight teams who finished third in the UEFA Champions’ League group stage, to create an even field of 32 teams.
• The 16 winners from the stage of 32 contest the round of 16, for which the pairings are determined through a draw.
• The eight winners of the stage of 16 contest the quarter-finals. The quarter-final pairings are determined through a draw.
• The four winners of the quarter-finals compete in the semi-finals where the pairings are also determined through a draw. The team which attains the greater number of goals in the two matches qualifies for the next stage.
• The stage of 32, the stage of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals are all played following the knockout system, on a home-and-away basis.
• For the matches that are played under the knockout system, if the two teams in a tie attain the same number of goals over the two legs, the team which attains more away goals is permitted for the next stage.
• The final is played as one single match at a neutral and predetermined venue. If the result remains a draw at the end of regular playing time, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played. If one of the teams attains more goals than the other during extra time, that team is announced as the winner. If the two competing teams are still equal after extra time, the winner is determined by a penalty kick.