UEFA Europa League: Explaining the Knockout spherical play-offs and Round of 16

The UEFA Europa League is all set to throw an thrilling curveball for the followers this season as we might see some massive names conflict within the new 12 months.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 4, 2022 17:39 IST

Will we see some mouthwatering clashes occur within the second-tier of European soccer (Courtesy: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: The Manchester United vs Real Sociedad match on Thursday definitely had a special really feel to it. Both groups had been battling it out as if it was a second-leg tie of a semi-final in one of many European competitions.

Alejandro Garnacho gave United the lead within the seventeenth minute however Sociedad held on to stop the Red Devils from scoring once more. This would have seen Erik ten Hag’s males leapfrog the Spanish aspect and end first within the group.

Once the ultimate whistle was blown, the Sociedad gamers and followers had been jubilant as they entered the Round of 16 of the Europa League, whereas Manchester United headed into the Knockout playoffs.

What is the brand new Round of 16 and playoff rounds within the Europa League?

According to the brand new system, the groups who completed first of their group go straight into the Round Of 16. In earlier years, Europe’s second-tier competitors, there was a Round of 32 that noticed the highest two sides being drawn in opposition to the third-placed aspect from the Champions League.

However, this has been scrapped and a brand new knockout playoff spherical was launched this season which sees the groups exiting the Champions League coming into the Europa League unseeded and going through off in opposition to the second-placed groups from every group, who shall be seeded.

So when the group occurs on seventh November, Pot 1 may have PSV, Rennes, Roma, Union Berlin, Manchester United, Midtjylland, Nantes, and Monaco, who completed second of their respective teams within the Europa League. Pot 2 will see Ajax, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Red Bull Salzburg, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Sporting Lisbon.

Teams from the identical nation cannot be drawn in opposition to one another and this implies that there’s a actual chance that we might see massive clashes like Manchester United vs Barcelona occurring within the new 12 months.

The knockout spherical matches are anticipated to happen over two legs on February sixteenth and twenty third. The winners of this spherical will then go into the spherical of 16 the place they tackle the winners of the teams within the Europa League.

The draw for that may happen on twenty fourth February 2023.

So, the brand new 12 months is ready to make the Europa League extra thrilling with some massive clashes set to happen on February sixteenth and twenty third.

Published On:

Nov 4, 2022