Sophia
The stage is set for an enthralling 2025-26 UEFA Europa League campaign! Thirty-six ambitious teams from across Europe have learned their fate following Friday’s highly anticipated league phase draw. With a coveted continental trophy and a potential Champions League berth on the line, the competition promises drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments.
Who Will Lift the Trophy?
Tottenham Hotspur, last season’s champions, secured not only a major European trophy but also a direct ticket to the Champions League. This year, a new contender will emerge, and several clubs are already eyeing the ultimate prize.
Among the hopefuls are Aston Villa, fresh off a strong Champions League quarter-final run, and Nottingham Forest, making their European return after more than four decades – a significant milestone for the club. Perennial contenders like Roma, Porto, Lille, and Real Betis also harbor strong ambitions, adding to the tournament’s allure.
The Draw Unpacked: Key Matchups and Challenges
The new league phase format sees each of the 36 teams play eight unique opponents – four at home and four away. This innovative structure ensures a diverse range of matchups and a more competitive opening round.
Pot 1 Teams and Their Road Ahead
- Roma: Will host Lille, Viktoria Plzeň, Midtjylland, and Stuttgart. Their away fixtures include challenging trips to Rangers, Celtic, Nice, and Panathinaikos.
- Porto: Face home ties against Rangers, Red Star Belgrade, Nice, and Malmö. They’ll travel to Red Bull Salzburg, Viktoria Plzeň, Nottingham Forest, and Utrecht.
- Rangers: Welcome Roma, Braga, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Genk to Ibrox. Away games are against Porto, Ferencváros, Sturm Graz, and Brann.
- Feyenoord: Their home schedule features Aston Villa, Celtic, Sturm Graz, and Panathinaikos. Away, they’ll meet Real Betis, Braga, FCSB, and Stuttgart.
- Lille: Will host Dinamo Zagreb, PAOK, Freiburg, and Brann. Their away fixtures include Roma, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys, and Celta Vigo.
- Dinamo Zagreb: Home matches against Real Betis, Fenerbahçe, FCSB, and Celta Vigo. They face away tests at Lille, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Midtjylland, and Malmö.
- Real Betis: Home fixtures include Feyenoord, Lille, Nottingham Forest, and Utrecht. Away, they’ll play Dinamo Zagreb, PAOK, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Genk.
- Red Bull Salzburg: Host Porto, Ferencváros, Basel, and Go Ahead Eagles. Their away encounters are with Aston Villa, Lyon, Freiburg, and Bologna.
- Aston Villa: Will host Red Bull Salzburg, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys, and Bologna. Their away games are against Feyenoord, Fenerbahçe, Basel, and Go Ahead Eagles.
Pot 2 Teams: A Mix of Experience and Ambition
- Fenerbahçe: Home ties against Aston Villa, Ferencváros, Nice, and Stuttgart. Away, they visit Dinamo Zagreb, Viktoria Plzeň, FCSB, and Brann.
- Braga: Host Feyenoord, Red Star Belgrade, Nottingham Forest, and Genk. Away, they face Rangers, Celtic, Nice, and Go Ahead Eagles.
- Red Star Belgrade: Welcome Lille, Celtic, FCSB, and Celta Vigo. Away, they travel to Porto, Braga, Sturm Graz, and Malmö.
- Lyon: Home fixtures include Red Bull Salzburg, PAOK, Basel, and Go Ahead Eagles. Away, they’ll play Real Betis, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys, and Utrecht.
- PAOK: Host Real Betis, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys, and Brann. Away, they’ll meet Lille, Lyon, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Celta Vigo.
- Viktoria Plzeň: Home matches against Porto, Fenerbahçe, Freiburg, and Malmö. Away, they visit Roma, Ferencváros, Basel, and Panathinaikos.
- Ferencváros: Host Rangers, Viktoria Plzeň, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Panathinaikos. Away, they’ll play Red Bull Salzburg, Fenerbahçe, Nottingham Forest, and Genk.
- Celtic: Home ties against Roma, Braga, Sturm Graz, and Utrecht. Away, they face Feyenoord, Red Star Belgrade, Midtjylland, and Bologna.
- Maccabi Tel Aviv: Host Dinamo Zagreb, Lyon, Midtjylland, and Bologna. Away, they travel to Aston Villa, PAOK, Freiburg, and Stuttgart.
Pot 3 Teams: Dark Horses and Rising Stars
- Young Boys: Home fixtures include Lille, Lyon, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Panathinaikos. Away, they’ll meet Aston Villa, PAOK, FCSB, and Stuttgart.
- Basel: Host Aston Villa, Viktoria Plzeň, FCSB, and Stuttgart. Away, they travel to Red Bull Salzburg, Lyon, Freiburg, and Genk.
- Midtjylland: Home matches against Dinamo Zagreb, Celtic, Sturm Graz, and Genk. Away, they visit Roma, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Nottingham Forest, and Brann.
- Freiburg: Host Red Bull Salzburg, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Basel, and Utrecht. Away, they’ll play Lille, Viktoria Plzeň, Nice, and Bologna.
- Ludogorets Razgrad: Home ties against Real Betis, PAOK, Nice, and Celta Vigo. Away, they face Rangers, Ferencváros, Young Boys, and Malmö.
- Nottingham Forest: Host Porto, Ferencváros, Midtjylland, and Malmö. Away, they’ll play Real Betis, Braga, Sturm Graz, and Utrecht.
- Sturm Graz: Home matches against Rangers, Red Star Belgrade, Nottingham Forest, and Brann. Away, they visit Feyenoord, Celtic, Midtjylland, and Panathinaikos.
- FCSB: Host Feyenoord, Fenerbahçe, Young Boys, and Bologna. Away, they travel to Dinamo Zagreb, Red Star Belgrade, Basel, and Go Ahead Eagles.
- Nice: Home ties against Roma, Braga, Freiburg, and Go Ahead Eagles. Away, they’ll play Porto, Fenerbahçe, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Celta Vigo.
Pot 4 Teams: The Underdogs Ready to Roar
- Bologna: Home fixtures include Red Bull Salzburg, Celtic, Freiburg, and Brann. Away, they’ll meet Aston Villa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, FCSB, and Celta Vigo.
- Celta Vigo: Host Lille, PAOK, Nice, and Bologna. Away, they visit Dinamo Zagreb, Red Star Belgrade, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Stuttgart.
- Stuttgart: Home matches against Feyenoord, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys, and Celta Vigo. Away, they’ll play Roma, Fenerbahçe, Basel, and Go Ahead Eagles.
- Panathinaikos: Host Roma, Viktoria Plzeň, Sturm Graz, and Go Ahead Eagles. Away, they’ll meet Feyenoord, Ferencváros, Young Boys, and Malmö.
- Malmö: Home ties against Dinamo Zagreb, Red Star Belgrade, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Panathinaikos. Away, they travel to Porto, Viktoria Plzeň, Nottingham Forest, and Genk.
- Go Ahead Eagles: Host Aston Villa, Braga, FCSB, and Stuttgart. Away, they’ll play Red Bull Salzburg, Lyon, Nice, and Panathinaikos.
- Utrecht: Home matches against Porto, Lyon, Nottingham Forest, and Genk. Away, they visit Real Betis, Celtic, Freiburg, and Brann.
- Genk: Host Real Betis, Ferencváros, Basel, and Malmö. Away, they’ll play Rangers, Braga, Midtjylland, and Utrecht.
- Brann: Home ties against Rangers, Fenerbahçe, Midtjylland, and Utrecht. Away, they’ll meet Lille, PAOK, Sturm Graz, and Bologna.
Key Dates for Your Diary
The Europa League league phase kicks off in the final week of September and will run until late January. The top 24 teams in the final standings will progress to the knockout rounds, with the top eight earning a direct bye to the Last 16. The remaining 16 teams will compete in the knockout play-off round.
The draw for the knockout play-off round is scheduled for January 30, 2026. The ultimate showdown, the Europa League final, will take place on May 20, 2026, at the iconic Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul.
Europa League League Phase Matchdays:
- Matchday 1: 24–25 September 2025
- Matchday 2: 2 October 2025
- Matchday 3: 23 October 2025
- Matchday 4: 6 November 2025
- Matchday 5: 27 November 2025
- Matchday 6: 11 December 2025
- Matchday 7: 22 January 2026
- Matchday 8: 29 January 2026
Fans can look forward to a thrilling journey as teams battle it out for European supremacy. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage, previews, and player ratings throughout the 2025-26 Europa League season.
