2016/17 Europa League: All you need to know
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
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Who are the 16 teams confirmed in the group stage? Where will the other 32 come from? When are the draws and matches? And where is the final? Get all the lowdown here.
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Who has qualified?
Of the 48 sides that will contest the group stage this autumn, 16 are already known:
Schalke (GER) coefficient 96.035
Zenit (RUS) 93.216
Manchester United (ENG) 82.256
Athletic Club (ESP) 75.142
Internazionale Milano (ITA) 58.087
Fiorentina (ITA) 57.087
Braga (POR) 43.116
Standard Liège (BEL) 27.500
Celta Vigo (ESP) 21.142
Feyenoord (NED) 19.112
Mainz (GER) 18.035
FC Zürich (SUI) 17.755
Southampton (ENG) 16.756
Nice (FRA) 12.049
Zorya Luhansk (UKR) 11.976
Konyaspor (TUR) 6.920
Of the remaining 32 teams, ten will transfer from the UEFA Champions League play-off round and the others will be the 22 UEFA Europa League play-off winners. That round will feature the 29 third qualifying round winners and 15 teams transferring from the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
The UEFA Europa League third qualifying round is made up of 25 teams given automatic entry and 33 second qualifying round winners. As for the second qualifying round, that features 18 teams given byes and the 48 first qualifying round winners over the last fortnight.
Another eight teams will enter in the round of 32 after finishing third in UEFA Champions League groups.
Where is the final?
The Friends Arena in Solna, near the Swedish capital Stockholm. opened on 14 November 2012 with a friendly between Sweden and England. Named after an anti-bullying campaign, it is the successor to the nearby Råsunda as the national stadium. The home of the Swedish national side and AIK Solna, the Friends Arena staged the UEFA Women's EURO 2013 final, attracting a competition record 41,301 fans as Germany beat Norway 1-0.
When are the draws?
15/07/16: Third qualifying round
05/08/16: Play-offs
26/08/16: Group stage
12/12/16: Round of 32
24/02/17: Round of 16
17/03/17: Quarter-finals
21/04/17: Semi-finals
When are the matches?
14/07/16: Second qualifying round, first leg
21/07/16: Second qualifying round, second leg
28/07/16: Third qualifying round, first leg
04/08/16: Third qualifying round, second leg
18/08/16: Play-off round, first leg
25/08/16: Play-off round, second leg
15/09/16: Group stage, matchday one
29/09/16: Group stage, matchday two
20/10/16: Group stage, matchday three
03/11/16: Group stage, matchday four
24/11/16: Group stage, matchday five
08/12/16: Group stage, matchday six
16/02/17: Round of 32, first leg
23/02/17: Round of 32, second leg
09/03/17: Round of 16, first leg
16/03/17: Round of 16, second leg
13/04/17: Quarter-finals, first leg
20/04/17: Quarter-finals, second leg
04/05/17: Semi-finals, first leg
11/05/17: Semi-finals, second leg
24/05/17: Final (Friends Arena, Solna)