The Europa League Knockout Phase Draw Approaches
The draw for the proper knockout phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League is set to take place this week, following the conclusion of the playoff round. Eight teams are competing in the second legs of their playoff ties on Thursday, vying for a spot in the Round of 16. These teams will join the already qualified heavyweights such as Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Rangers, and Athletic Club, whose San Mames stadium in Bilbao will host this year’s final. The draw will map out the full bracket for the knockout phase, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the competition.
Key Details of the Draw
The Europa League Round of 16 draw is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 21, at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The event is set to start at 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET), following the conclusion of the Champions League knockout phase draw. This year, the tournament has undergone a revamp, with the bracket already mapped out up to the Round of 16 and beyond. Once teams are assigned their spots in the knockout phase, their route to the final will be set, with an additional draw conducted to determine the order of quarterfinal and semifinal legs. Notably, there are no restrictions on teams from the same country facing each other at any stage in the knockouts.
Teams in the Europa League Round of 16
The teams that finished in the top eight positions in the league phase have automatically qualified for the Round of 16 and are seeded for the draw. These clubs include Lazio, Athletic Club, Manchester United, Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, and Rangers. The remaining spots will be filled by the winners of the playoff ties, which include Viktoria Plzen vs. Ferencvaros, Porto vs. Roma, Twente vs. Bodo/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Ajax, AZ vs. Galatasaray, Fenerbahce vs. Anderlecht, PAOK vs. FCSB, and Midtjylland vs. Real Sociedad. The table below will be updated once the playoff results are known:
| Team | Seeded/Unseeded |
|---|---|
| Lazio (ITA) | Seeded |
| Athletic Club (SPA) | Seeded |
| Man United (ENG) | Seeded |
| Tottenham (ENG) | Seeded |
| Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | Seeded |
| Lyon (FRA) | Seeded |
| Olympiacos (GRE) | Seeded |
| Rangers (SCO) | Seeded |
| — | Unseeded |
| — | Unseeded |
| — | Unseeded |
| — | Unseeded |
| — | Unseeded |
| — | Unseeded |
| — | Unseeded |
| — | Unseeded |
The Europa League Round of 16 Fixtures
Once the draw for the Round of 16 is complete, the fixtures will be updated to reflect the seeded and unseeded teams. The teams in bold are the seeded sides who have already qualified. The first legs of the Round of 16 will take place on March 6, with the second legs on March 13. Here are the potential matchups:
- Ferencvaros or Viktoria Plzen vs. Lazio or Athletic Club
- Twente or Bodo/Glimt vs. Olympiacos or Rangers
- Union Saint-Gilloise or Ajax vs. Eintracht Frankfurt or Lyon
- AZ or Galatasaray vs. Man United or Tottenham
- Porto or Roma vs. Lazio or Athletic Club
- Fenerbahce or Anderlecht vs. Olympiacos or Rangers
- PAOK or FCSB vs. Eintracht Frankfurt or Lyon
- Midtjylland or Real Sociedad vs. Man United or Tottenham
Schedule for the Europa League Knockout Stage
The knockout stage of the Europa League is tightly packed, with important dates to remember. The first legs of the Round of 16 will be played on March 6, and the second legs on March 13. The quarterfinals will follow on April 10 (first legs) and April 17 (second legs), with the semifinal first legs on May 1 and the second legs on May 8. The final is set for May 21, just four days before the final matchday of the Premier League season and 10 days before the UEFA Champions League final. The complete schedule for the knockout stage is as follows:
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Knockout Playoffs | February 13 (first legs); February 20 (second legs) |
| Round of 16 | March 6 (first legs); March 13 (second legs) |
| Quarterfinals | April 10 (first legs); April 17 (second legs) |
| Semifinals | May 1 (first legs); May 8 (second legs) |
| Final | May 21 |
Anticipation Builds for a Thrilling Knockout Phase
As the draw approaches, anticipation is building for a thrilling knockout phase in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League. The competition has seen some of the biggest names in European football secure their spots, while the playoff ties promise to deliver intense and unpredictable matches. The draw on February 21 will set the stage for exciting football, with the ultimate goal of lifting the trophy at San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 21. Fans and pundits alike will be tuning in to see which teams will emerge as favorites and which underdogs will make a mark in this revamped and highly competitive tournament.
