New Europa League Draw revealed as Manchester United set to face stronger opponent that could Eliminate them from the group stage.
This season, the Europa League is introducing a major change to its format. The traditional group stage is being replaced with a new league phase. Teams will now compete in a league format, where their overall performance will dictate who moves forward to the knockout stages.For this phase, each team, including Manchester United, will participate in eight matches—four at home and four away. The top eight teams from the league phase will automatically qualify for the Round of 16. Teams that finish between ninth and 24th place will enter a knockout play-off round. Teams that do not finish in the top 24 will be eliminated from the competition without the opportunity to drop into the Conference League.
Draw Details:
Date and Time:The draw for this revamped Europa League format is set for Friday, August 30, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, starting at 12:00 PM BST.
– **Manchester United’s Potential Opponents:** Manchester United will be drawn against two teams from each pot, avoiding English clubs (like Tottenham Hotspur) and ensuring no more than two teams from the same country face each other.
Pot Assignments:
–Pot 1:Manchester United, Roma, FC Porto, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lazio, Tottenham Hotspur
–Pot 2:Olympiacos, Lyon
–Pot 1 or 2:Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar
–Pot 3 or 4:Malmö, Athletic Club, Hoffenheim, Nice, Twente, Ludogorets Razgrad, Petrocub, RFS, APOEL, Anderlecht, Dinamo Minsk, Besiktas, Lugano
–To Be Determined:Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise (USG), Dynamo Kyiv, Red Star Belgrade, Bodo/Glimt, Lille, Slavia Prague, Dinamo Zagreb, Qarabag, Midtjylland, Slovan Bratislava, Ajax, Jagiellonia Bialystok, LASK, FCSB, Maccabi Tel Aviv, TSC, Shamrock Rovers, PAOK, Ferencvaros, Borac Banja Luka, Molde, Elfsborg, Braga, Rapid Wien, Hearts, Viktoria Plzen
Match Schedule:
–Matchday 1:September 25 or 26, 2024
–Matchday 2:October 3, 2024
These modifications are designed to make the Europa League more competitive and thrilling for both players and fans alike.The revamped Europa League format certainly brings an exciting twist to the competition. With the new league phase, Manchester United and the other teams will face a fresh challenge as they navigate through eight matches in a league format. This change aims to enhance competitiveness and ensure that teams perform consistently to advance.
For Manchester United, the draw on August 30 in Monte Carlo will be crucial. They will face teams from Pot 2 and potentially from Pot 3 or 4, avoiding English clubs and not facing more than two teams from the same country. The group stage matches will start on September 25 or 26 and continue into October, leading up to the knockout stages.
The new format should add an extra layer of strategy and excitement for the fans as teams aim for a top-eight finish to secure their place in the Round of 16.
