The draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals took place on Friday, February 21st, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. Football fans worldwide eagerly anticipated the results, and the draw has set the stage for thrilling knockout stage encounters in this prestigious competition.
UEFA Europa League knockout bracket for Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, and Semi-Finals, showcasing team pairings and match progression
Europa League Round of 16 Matches
The round of 16 is poised to deliver some captivating clashes. Here’s a breakdown of the first and second leg fixtures:
First Leg Matches: Thursday, March 6th
- AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham (18:45 CET)
- FCSB vs Lyon (18:45 CET)
- Fenerbahçe vs Rangers (18:45 CET)
- Real Sociedad vs Manchester United (18:45 CET)
- Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- Bodø/Glimt vs Olympiacos
- Roma vs Athletic Club
- Viktoria Plzeň vs Lazio
Second Leg Matches: Thursday, March 13th
- Athletic Club vs Roma (18:45 CET)
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Ajax (18:45 CET)
- Lazio vs Viktoria Plzeň (18:45 CET)
- Olympiacos vs Bodø/Glimt (18:45 CET)
- Lyon vs FCSB
- Manchester United vs Real Sociedad
- Rangers vs Fenerbahçe
- Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar
Europa League Quarter-Final Potential Matchups
Looking ahead, the quarter-final draw has mapped out potential paths for teams vying for a spot in the latter stages. The potential quarter-final ties are:
- 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)
These matches are scheduled to take place on April 10th and 17th. It’s worth noting that the potential home match for Roma in the quarter-finals is subject to possible scheduling adjustments.
Europa League Semi-Final Potential Matchups
The semi-final draw further plots the course to the final, revealing these potential pairings:
- Winner of Quarter-final 1 (AZ/Tottenham/Ajax/Frankfurt) vs Winner of Quarter-final 2 (Bodø/Glimt/Olympiacos/Plzeň/Lazio)
- Winner of Quarter-final 3 (Fenerbahçe/Rangers/Roma/Athletic Club) vs Winner of Quarter-final 4 (FCSB/Lyon/Real Sociedad/Manchester United)
The semi-final legs are scheduled for May 1st and 8th, building anticipation for the final showdown.
Europa League Draw Procedures Explained
Round of 16 Draw Mechanics
For the round of 16 draw, teams were seeded based on their performance in the league phase. The top eight teams from the league phase were seeded, while the eight winners from the knockout phase play-offs were unseeded.
Seeded Teams (League Phase Top 8):
- Athletic Club (ESP)
- Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
- Lazio (ITA)
- Lyon (FRA)
- Manchester United (ENG)
- Olympiacos (GRE)
- Rangers (SCO)
- Tottenham (ENG)
Unseeded Teams (Knockout Phase Play-off Winners):
- Ajax (NED)
- AZ Alkmaar (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, categorized as seeded and unseeded teams
The draw paired seeded teams against unseeded teams, ensuring that teams from the same league phase group and potentially the same national association could now face each other. The draw process involved four bowls representing seeded team pairings based on league rankings.
Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Draw Mechanics
Unlike the round of 16, the quarter-final and semi-final draws were open draws. This meant there were no seedings, and teams from the same national association could be drawn against each other. The draw primarily determined the match order, establishing which team would play the first leg at home and the return leg away.
Four bowls were used for the quarter-final draw, and two for the semi-final draw, each containing balls representing the winners of the previous round matches. The drawing of balls determined the home and away legs for each fixture.
Visual representation of the UEFA Europa League knockout bracket, highlighting the progression from Round of 16 to the Finals
Europa League Final Draw Details
Notably, there was no separate draw for the Europa League final itself. The bracket positioning from the earlier knockout draws determined the nominal home team for the final – the winner of the semi-final on the silver side of the bracket.
Key Draw Regulations
- Same Country Matchups: Teams from the same national association can face each other from the round of 16 onwards.
- Match Dates:
- Round of 16: March 6 & 13
- Quarter-finals: April 10 & 17
- Semi-finals: May 1 & 8
- Final: May 21 (Bilbao)
The full competition calendar is governed by UEFA regulations, with matches typically played on Thursdays, except for the final, which is on a Wednesday. UEFA administration holds the authority to adjust match schedules, particularly to avoid clashes for teams from the same city or stadium.
The draw has laid the groundwork for an exciting UEFA Europa League knockout phase. Fans are eagerly awaiting the matches as teams battle for a place in the final in Bilbao.
