About Europa league
The UEFA Europa League, commonly referred to as the Europa League, is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It is the second-tier club competition in European football, ranking below the UEFA Champions League but above domestic leagues.
The Europa League was first introduced in the 1971-1972 season as the UEFA Cup, before being rebranded as the UEFA Europa League in 2009. The competition features teams from across Europe, including those that finish in lower positions in their domestic leagues and those that are eliminated from the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The format of the Europa League consists of a group stage followed by knockout rounds, similar to the UEFA Champions League. The group stage is composed of teams divided into groups, with matches played on a home-and-away basis. The top teams from each group, along with the third-placed teams from the UEFA Champions League groups, advance to the knockout rounds. The knockout stage includes rounds of 32, 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final to determine the champion.
The winner of the Europa League earns several rewards, including automatic qualification for the following season’s UEFA Champions League group stage. Additionally, the winner has the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Super Cup against the winner of the UEFA Champions League.
The Europa League provides an exciting platform for clubs to compete at the European level, offering opportunities for both established and emerging teams to showcase their talents. It is known for its passionate matches, intense competition, and the chance for clubs to gain continental recognition.
Over the years, the Europa League has produced memorable moments, thrilling matches, and surprise performances from both big-name clubs and underdogs. It has become a highly anticipated competition that captures the attention of football fans worldwide.
Overall, the Europa League plays a vital role in European club football, promoting competitiveness, diversity, and the growth of the sport across the continent. It provides a platform for clubs to showcase their abilities and represents an important stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of competing in the UEFA Champions League.
2022/23 UEFA Europa League: Matches, draws, final
What are the match dates? When are the draws? Where is the 2023 final?
The 2022/23 campaign is the 52nd season of this club competition, the 14th since it was rebranded from UEFA Cup to UEFA Europa League and the second since the introduction of the new format. It kicked off on 4 August 2022 and runs until the final on 31 May 2023.
Following the advent of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2021/22, the group stage was reduced from 48 to 32 teams – eight groups of four – with the eight group winners progressing automatically to the round of 16.
There are now additional knockout round play-offs prior to the round of 16 between the eight UEFA Europa League group runners-up and the eight third-ranked teams from the UEFA Champions League groups.
Please note that dates are subject to change.
Europa League 2022/23 match schedule
When were the Europa League qualifiers?
Third qualifying round: 4 & 11 August 2022
Play-offs: 18 & 25 August 2022
Qualifying was much-changed, and featured 27 teams across two rounds: the third qualifying round and play-offs. It started later than previously, in August.
The majority of teams involved in qualifying transferred from the UEFA Champions League, though some teams (in principle cup winners) from top 15-ranked associations began directly in UEFA Europa League qualifying.
Full details of who entered when, and how eliminated clubs transferred to the UEFA Europa Conference League, can be found on the access List.
The league attracts top-level players and coaches from around the world, and the quality of play is consistently high. The league has a long and storied history, with many iconic moments and legendary players.
Overall, the EuroLeague is a highly competitive and respected basketball competition that showcases the best club teams and players from across Europe.
It is a source of pride for many European basketball fans, and its impact on the sport cannot be overstated.
Take a look at the Euroleague for Men website.
When are the 2022/23 Europa League draws?
Third qualifying round: 18 July 2022
Play-off round: 2 August 2022
Group stage: 26 August 2022
Knockout round play-off: 7 November 2022
Round of 16: 24 February 2023
Quarter-finals & Semi-finals: 17 March 2023
When are the Europa League group stage matches?
Matchday 1: 8 September 2022
Matchday 2: 15 September 2022
Matchday 3: 6 October 2022
Matchday 4: 13 October 2022
Matchday 5: 27 October 2022
Matchday 6: 3 November 2022
When is the Europa League knockout stage?
Knockout round play-offs: 16 & 23 February
Round of 16: 9 & 16 March 2023
Quarter-finals: 13 & 20 April 2023
Semi-finals: 11 & 18 May 2023
Final: 31 May 2023
Matches are generally played on Thursdays (other than the final) and in principle equally split between two time slots: 18:45 CET and 21:00 CET.
Where is the Europa League final in 2023?
Budapest will stage its first major European men’s final as the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League decider takes place at the Puskás Aréna.
The venue was originally slated to stage the 2022 final, but it was agreed in June 2020 that the Puskás Aréna would be the venue for the 2023 decider instead.
Read more about the 2023 budapest final >>>