The draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League knockout stages, encompassing the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, was held on Friday, February 21st, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. This highly anticipated UEFA Europa League draw set the stage for the thrilling conclusion of the tournament, charting the course for teams vying for European glory.
Europa League Round of 16 Fixtures: First Leg Matchups
The UEFA Europa League draw for the round of 16 produced some enticing first-leg clashes, scheduled for Thursday, March 6th:
- AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham (6:45 PM CET)
- FCSB vs Lyon (6:45 PM CET)
- Fenerbahçe vs Rangers (6:45 PM CET)
- Real Sociedad vs Manchester United (6:45 PM CET)
- Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- Bodø/Glimt vs Olympiacos
- Roma vs Athletic Club
- Viktoria Plzeň vs Lazio
Bracket for UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Quarter-finals and Semi-finals, detailing match pairings and pathways to the final
Europa League Round of 16 Fixtures: Second Leg Matchups
The second leg matches, crucial for determining who advances to the quarter-finals, were scheduled for Thursday, March 13th:
- Athletic Club vs Roma (6:45 PM CET)
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Ajax (6:45 PM CET)
- Lazio vs Viktoria Plzeň (6:45 PM CET)
- Olympiacos vs Bodø/Glimt (6:45 PM CET)
- Lyon vs FCSB
- Manchester United vs Real Sociedad
- Rangers vs Fenerbahçe
- Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar
Europa League Quarter-Final Draw: Potential Matchups
Following the UEFA Europa League draw, the quarter-final pairings were also determined, outlining potential paths for teams advancing from the round of 16. The quarter-final ties are scheduled for April 10th and 17th:
- Bodø/Glimt (NOR) or Olympiacos (GRE) vs Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) or Lazio (ITA)
- AZ Alkmaar (NED) or Tottenham (ENG) vs Ajax (NED) or Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
- Fenerbahçe (TUR) or Rangers (SCO) vs Roma (ITA) or Athletic Club (ESP)
- FCSB (ROU) or Lyon (FRA) vs Real Sociedad (ESP) or Manchester United (ENG)
Note: The potential home match for Roma in the quarter-finals may be subject to schedule changes.
Europa League Semi-Final Draw: Path to the Final
The UEFA Europa League draw extended to the semi-finals, revealing the potential matchups for the final stages of the competition. The semi-final legs will be played on May 1st and 8th:
- AZ/Tottenham/Ajax/Frankfurt vs Bodø/Glimt/Olympiacos/Plzeň/Lazio
- Fenerbahçe/Rangers/Roma/Athletic Club vs FCSB/Lyon/Real Sociedad/Manchester United
Teams in the Europa League Round of 16 Draw
The UEFA Europa League draw for the round of 16 included the top eight teams from the league phase, who were seeded, and the eight winners from the knockout phase play-offs, who were unseeded.
Seeded Teams from League Phase (Alphabetical Order):
- Athletic Club (ESP)
- Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
- Lazio (ITA)
- Lyon (FRA)
- Manchester United (ENG)
- Olympiacos (GRE)
- Rangers (SCO)
- Tottenham (ENG)
Unseeded Teams from Knockout Phase Play-offs (Alphabetical Order):
- Ajax (NED)
- AZ Alkmaar (NED) (NED)
- Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
- FCSB (ROU)
- Fenerbahçe (TUR)
- Real Sociedad (ESP)
- Roma (ITA)
- Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
Teams participating in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 draw, listed with national flags and team names
How the Europa League Round of 16 Draw Worked
The UEFA Europa League draw for the round of 16 was conducted based on league phase positions. Teams were paired according to their rankings (1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6, 7 & 8). Seeded teams were drawn against unseeded teams, with pairings determined by knockout phase play-off results.
Four bowls were used, each containing pairs of seeded teams based on league rankings. The draw process began with teams ranked 7/8 and proceeded to teams ranked 1/2.
For each ranking pair, a ball was drawn to determine the first team, placed on the silver side of the bracket, and the second team, placed on the orange side. This systematic approach ensured a structured and fair UEFA Europa League draw for the round of 16.
Visual representation of the UEFA Europa League knockout stage bracket, showcasing silver and orange sides and pathways from Round of 16 to the Final
Europa League Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Draw Procedures
The UEFA Europa League draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals determined the match order, indicating which team would host the first leg. By this stage, all potential opponents were known, simplifying the process.
For the quarter-final draw, four bowls were prepared, two for each side of the bracket (silver and orange). Each bowl contained balls representing winners from specific round of 16 matches. The draw started with the silver side, drawing balls to determine home and away teams for the first quarter-final pairing, and repeated for subsequent pairings.
The semi-final draw followed a similar procedure with two bowls, one for each bracket side, containing balls marked with ‘Winners Q-F 1’, ‘Winners Q-F 2’, etc. Drawing order determined home and away teams for the semi-final legs.
No Draw for the Europa League Final
Unlike earlier stages, there was no specific UEFA Europa League draw for the final. Bracket positioning from the round of 16 and play-off draw determined final match designations. The winner of the semi-final on the silver bracket side is designated as the nominal home team for the final.
Country Clashes in Europa League Knockout Stages
The UEFA Europa League draw permits teams from the same country to face each other in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals. There are no restrictions preventing domestic clashes, or rematches from the league phase, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the knockout stages.
Europa League Knockout Stage Dates
Mark your calendars for the key dates in the UEFA Europa League knockout phase:
- Round of 16: March 6 & 13
- Quarter-finals: April 10 & 17
- Semi-finals: May 1 & 8
- Final: May 21 (Bilbao)
For the full competition calendar, refer to the official UEFA Europa League regulations.
Europa League Match Scheduling and Regulations
UEFA regulations dictate match scheduling, primarily on Thursdays, with the final exceptionally on a Wednesday. Match schedules from the league phase onwards are determined by UEFA administration.
Flexibility exists for scheduling adjustments, especially for clubs from the same city or stadium. If multiple clubs share a city and playing day conflicts arise, UEFA can alter dates and kick-off times, guided by principles set by the Club Competitions Committee. UEFA ultimately reserves the right to decide match dates as needed.
The round of 16 match schedule was released on February 21st, with quarter-final and semi-final schedules following on March 14th, after the round of 16 second legs. This detailed planning ensures the smooth progression of the UEFA Europa League draw and tournament.
