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2018–19 UEFA Europa League

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2018–19 UEFA Europa League
The Olympic Stadium in Baku hosted the final.
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
26 June – 30 August 2018
Competition proper:
20 September 2018 – 29 May 2019
TeamsCompetition proper: 48+8
Total: 158+55 (from 55 associations)
Final positions
ChampionsEngland Chelsea (2nd title)
Runners-upEngland Arsenal
Tournament statistics
Matches played205
Goals scored565 (2.76 per match)
Attendance5,038,109 (24,576 per match)
Top scorer(s)Olivier Giroud (Chelsea)
11 goals
Best player(s)Eden Hazard (Chelsea)[1]

The 2018–19 UEFA Europa League was the 48th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 10th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League.

The final was played at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan,[2] between English sides Chelsea and Arsenal – which was the first Europa League final to feature two teams from one city and was also the first time that 4 Premier League representatives (teams) were in both European finals. Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4–1 and earned the right to play against Liverpool, the winners of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup. As winners, Chelsea would also have been qualified for the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League group stage; however, since they had already qualified after finishing third in the Premier League, the berth reserved was given to the third-placed team of the 2018–19 Ligue 1 (Lyon) – the 5th-ranked association according to next season's access list.[3]

For the first time, the video assistant referee (VAR) system was used in the competition, where it was implemented in the final.[4]

As the title holders of the Europa League, Atlético Madrid qualified for the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, although they had already qualified before the final through their league performance. They were unable to defend their title as they advanced to the Champions League knockout stage, and were eliminated by Juventus in the round of 16.

Format changes

[edit]

On 9 December 2016, UEFA confirmed the reforming plan for the UEFA Champions League for the 2018–2021 cycle, which was announced on 26 August 2016.[5][6] As per the new regulations, all teams that are eliminated in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds will get a second chance in the Europa League.

Association team allocation

[edit]

213 teams from all 55 UEFA member associations participated in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League. The association ranking based on the UEFA country coefficients was used to determine the number of participating teams for each association:[7][8]

  • Associations 1–51 (except Liechtenstein) each had three teams qualify.
  • Associations 52–54 each had two teams qualify.
  • Liechtenstein and Kosovo (association 55) each had one team qualify (Liechtenstein organised only a domestic cup and no domestic league; Kosovo as per decision by the UEFA Executive Committee).[9]
  • Moreover, 55 teams eliminated from the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League were transferred to the Europa League (default number was 57, but 2 fewer teams competed in the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League).

Association ranking

[edit]

For the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, the associations were allocated places according to their 2017 UEFA country coefficients, which took into account their performance in European competitions from 2012–13 to 2016–17.[10]

Apart from the allocation based on the country coefficients, associations could have additional teams participating in the Champions League, as noted below:

  • (UCL) – Additional teams transferred from the UEFA Champions League
Association ranking for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Rank Association Coeff. Teams Notes
1  Spain 104.998 3 +1 (UCL)
2  Germany 79.498
3  England 75.962
4  Italy 73.332 +2 (UCL)
5  France 56.665
6  Russia 50.532 +1 (UCL)
7  Portugal 49.332 +1 (UCL)
8  Ukraine 42.633 +2 (UCL)
9  Belgium 42.400 +2 (UCL)
10  Turkey 39.200 +2 (UCL)
11  Czech Republic 33.175 +2 (UCL)
12  Switzerland 32.075 +1 (UCL)
13  Netherlands 31.063
14  Greece 27.900 +1 (UCL)
15  Austria 25.350 +2 (UCL)
16  Croatia 25.250 +1 (UCL)
17  Romania 24.350 +1 (UCL)
18  Denmark 24.000 +1 (UCL)
19  Belarus 19.875 +1 (UCL)
Rank Association Coeff. Teams Notes
20  Poland 19.750 3 +1 (UCL)
21  Sweden 19.725 +1 (UCL)
22  Israel 19.375 +1 (UCL)
23  Scotland 18.925 +1 (UCL)
24  Cyprus 18.550 +1 (UCL)
25  Norway 18.325 +1 (UCL)
26  Azerbaijan 17.750 +1 (UCL)
27  Bulgaria 15.875 +1 (UCL)
28  Serbia 15.375
29  Kazakhstan 15.250 +1 (UCL)
30  Slovenia 13.125 +1 (UCL)
31  Slovakia 11.750 +1 (UCL)
32  Liechtenstein 11.000 1
33  Hungary 9.500 3 +1 (UCL)
34  Moldova 9.500 +1 (UCL)
35  Iceland 8.375 +1 (UCL)
36  Finland 7.650 +1 (UCL)
37  Albania 6.625 +1 (UCL)
Rank Association Coeff. Teams Notes
38  Republic of Ireland 6.575 3 +1 (UCL)
39  Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.500 +1 (UCL)
40  Georgia 6.375 +1 (UCL)
41  Latvia 6.125 +1 (UCL)
42  Macedonia 5.625 +1 (UCL)
43  Estonia 5.250 +1 (UCL)
44  Montenegro 5.250 +1 (UCL)
45  Armenia 5.125 +1 (UCL)
46  Luxembourg 4.875 +1 (UCL)
47  Northern Ireland 4.500 +1 (UCL)
48  Lithuania 4.125 +1 (UCL)
49  Malta 4.000 +1 (UCL)
50  Wales 3.875 +1 (UCL)
51  Faroe Islands 3.500 +1 (UCL)
52  Gibraltar 2.500 2 +1 (UCL)
53  Andorra 1.165 +1 (UCL)
54  San Marino 0.333 +1 (UCL)
55  Kosovo 0.000 1 +1 (UCL)

Distribution

[edit]

In the default access list, originally 17 losers from the Champions League first qualifying round were transferred to the Europa League second qualifying round (Champions Path).[11][7] However, one fewer loser would be transferred since the Champions League title holders already qualified for the group stage via their domestic league. Therefore, only 19 teams entered the Champions Path second qualifying round (one of the losers from the Champions League first qualifying round would be drawn to receive a bye to the third qualifying round).[12]

In addition, originally three losers from the Champions League second qualifying round (League Path) were transferred to the Europa League third qualifying round (Main Path).[11] However, one fewer loser would be transferred since the Europa League title holders already qualified for the group stage via their domestic league. As a result, the following changes to the access list was made:[12]

  • The cup winners of association 18 (Denmark) entered the third qualifying round instead of the second qualifying round.
  • The cup winners of association 25 (Norway) entered the second qualifying round instead of the first qualifying round.
  • The cup winners of associations 50 (Wales) and 51 (Faroe Islands) entered the first qualifying round instead of the preliminary round.
Access list for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Teams entering in this round Teams advancing from previous round Teams transferred from Champions League
Preliminary round
(14 teams)
  • 4 domestic cup winners from associations 52–55
  • 6 domestic league runners-up from associations 49–54
  • 4 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 48–51
First qualifying round
(94 teams)
  • 26 domestic cup winners from associations 26–51
  • 30 domestic league runners-up from associations 18–48 (except Liechtenstein)
  • 31 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 16–47 (except Liechtenstein)
  • 7 winners from preliminary round
Second qualifying round Champions Path
(18 teams)
  • 15 losers from Champions League first qualifying round
  • 3 losers from Champions League preliminary round
Main Path
(74 teams)
  • 7 domestic cup winners from associations 19–25
  • 2 domestic league runners-up from associations 16–17
  • 3 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 13–15
  • 9 domestic league fourth-placed teams from associations 7–15
  • 2 domestic league fifth-placed teams from associations 5–6 (League Cup winners for France)
  • 4 domestic league sixth-placed teams from associations 1–4 (League Cup winners for England)
  • 47 winners from first qualifying round
Third qualifying round Champions Path
(20 teams)
  • 9 winners from second qualifying round (Champions Path)
  • 10 losers from Champions League second qualifying round (Champions Path)
  • 1 losers from Champions League first qualifying round (Champions Path)
Main Path
(52 teams)
  • 6 domestic cup winners from associations 13–18
  • 6 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 7–12
  • 1 domestic league fourth-placed team from association 6
  • 37 winners from second qualifying round (Main Path)
  • 2 losers from Champions League second qualifying round (League Path)
Play-off round Champions Path
(16 teams)
  • 10 winners from third qualifying round (Champions Path)
  • 6 losers from Champions League third qualifying round (Champions Path)
Main Path
(26 teams)
  • 26 winners from third qualifying round (Main Path)
Group stage
(48 teams)
  • 12 domestic cup winners from associations 1–12
  • 1 domestic league fourth-placed team from association 5
  • 4 domestic league fifth-placed teams from associations 1–4
  • 8 winners from play-off round (Champions Path)
  • 13 winners from play-off round (Main Path)
  • 4 losers from Champions League play-off round (Champions Path)
  • 2 losers from Champions League play-off round (League Path)
  • 4 losers from Champions League third qualifying round (League Path)
Knockout phase
(32 teams)
  • 12 group winners from group stage
  • 12 group runners-up from group stage
  • 8 third-placed teams from Champions League group stage

Redistribution rules

[edit]

A Europa League place was vacated when a team qualified for both the Champions League and the Europa League, or qualified for the Europa League by more than one method. When a place was vacated, it was redistributed within the national association by the following rules:[8]

  • When the domestic cup winners (considered as the "highest-placed" qualifier within the national association with the latest starting round) also qualified for the Champions League, their Europa League place was vacated. As a result, the highest-placed team in the league which had not yet qualified for European competitions qualified for the Europa League, with the Europa League qualifiers which finished above them in the league moving up one "place".
  • When the domestic cup winners also qualified for the Europa League through league position, their place through the league position was vacated. As a result, the highest-placed team in the league which had not yet qualified for European competitions qualified for the Europa League, with the Europa League qualifiers which finished above them in the league moving up one "place" if possible.
  • For associations where a Europa League place was reserved for either the League Cup or end-of-season European competition play-offs winners, they always qualified for the Europa League as the "lowest-placed" qualifier. If the League Cup winners had already qualified for European competitions through other methods, this reserved Europa League place was taken by the highest-placed team in the league which had not yet qualified for European competitions.

Teams

[edit]

The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round:[13]

  • CW: Cup winners
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, etc.: League position
  • LC: League Cup winners
  • RW: Regular season winners
  • PW: End-of-season Europa League play-offs winners
  • UCL: Transferred from the Champions League
    • GS: Third-placed teams from the group stage
    • PO: Losers from the play-off round
    • Q3: Losers from the third qualifying round
    • Q2: Losers from the second qualifying round
    • Q1: Losers from the first qualifying round
    • PR: Losers from the preliminary round (SF: semi-finals; F: final)
Qualified teams for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League (by entry round)
Round of 32
Spain Valencia (UCL GS) Italy Napoli (UCL GS) Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk (UCL GS) Turkey Galatasaray (UCL GS)
Italy Inter Milan (UCL GS) Portugal Benfica (UCL GS) Belgium Club Brugge (UCL GS) Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň (UCL GS)
Group stage
Spain Villarreal (5th) Italy Milan (6th)[Note ITA] Turkey Akhisarspor (CW) Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv (UCL PO)
Spain Real Betis (6th) France Marseille (4th) Czech Republic Jablonec (3rd) Greece PAOK (UCL PO)
Germany Eintracht Frankfurt (CW) France Rennes (5th) Switzerland Zürich (CW) Russia Spartak Moscow (UCL Q3)
Germany Bayer Leverkusen (5th) Russia Krasnodar (4th)[Note RUS] Austria Red Bull Salzburg (UCL PO) Belgium Standard Liège (UCL Q3)
England Chelsea (CW) Portugal Sporting CP (3rd)[Note POR] Croatia Dinamo Zagreb (UCL PO) Turkey Fenerbahçe (UCL Q3)
England Arsenal (6th) Ukraine Vorskla Poltava (3rd) Belarus BATE Borisov (UCL PO) Czech Republic Slavia Prague (UCL Q3)
Italy Lazio (5th) Belgium Anderlecht (3rd) Hungary MOL Vidi (UCL PO)
Play-off round
Champions Path Main Path
Sweden Malmö FF (UCL Q3) Kazakhstan Astana (UCL Q3)
Scotland Celtic (UCL Q3) Slovakia Spartak Trnava (UCL Q3)
Azerbaijan Qarabağ (UCL Q3) North Macedonia Shkëndija (UCL Q3)
Third qualifying round
Champions Path Main Path
Romania CFR Cluj (UCL Q2) Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad (UCL Q2) Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg (5th)[Note RUS] Greece Olympiacos (3rd)
Denmark Midtjylland (UCL Q2) Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol (UCL Q2) Portugal Braga (4th)[Note POR] Austria Rapid Wien (3rd)
Poland Legia Warsaw (UCL Q2) Finland HJK (UCL Q2) Ukraine Zorya Luhansk (4th) Croatia Rijeka (2nd)
Israel Hapoel Be'er Sheva (UCL Q2) Albania Kukësi (UCL Q2) Belgium Gent (4th) Romania Universitatea Craiova (CW)
Norway Rosenborg (UCL Q2) Lithuania Sūduva (UCL Q2) Turkey İstanbul Başakşehir (3rd) Denmark Brøndby (CW)
Republic of Ireland Cork City (UCL Q1)[Note UCL Q1] Czech Republic Sigma Olomouc (4th) Switzerland Basel (UCL Q2)
Switzerland Luzern (3rd) Austria Sturm Graz (UCL Q2)
Netherlands Feyenoord (CW)
Second qualifying round
Champions Path Main Path
Cyprus APOEL (UCL Q1) Luxembourg F91 Dudelange (UCL Q1) Spain Sevilla (7th) Greece Atromitos (4th)
Slovenia Olimpija Ljubljana (UCL Q1) Northern Ireland Crusaders (UCL Q1) Germany RB Leipzig (6th) Greece Asteras Tripolis (5th)
Iceland Valur (UCL Q1) Malta Valletta (UCL Q1) England Burnley (7th) Austria LASK (4th)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski Mostar (UCL Q1) Wales The New Saints (UCL Q1) Italy Atalanta (7th) Austria Flyeralarm Admira (5th)
Georgia (country) Torpedo Kutaisi (UCL Q1) Faroe Islands Víkingur Gøta (UCL Q1) France Bordeaux (6th) Croatia Hajduk Split (3rd)
Latvia Spartaks Jūrmala (UCL Q1) Kosovo Drita (UCL Q1) Russia Ufa (6th)[Note RUS] Romania FCSB (2nd)
Estonia Flora (UCL Q1) Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps (UCL PR F) Portugal Rio Ave (5th)[Note POR] Belarus Dynamo Brest (CW)
Montenegro Sutjeska (UCL Q1) Andorra FC Santa Coloma (UCL PR SF) Ukraine Mariupol (5th) Poland Jagiellonia Białystok (2nd)
Armenia Alashkert (UCL Q1) San Marino La Fiorita (UCL PR SF) Belgium Genk (PW) Sweden Djurgårdens IF (CW)
Turkey Beşiktaş (4th) Israel Hapoel Haifa (CW)
Czech Republic Sparta Prague (5th) Scotland Aberdeen (2nd)
Switzerland St. Gallen (5th) Cyprus AEK Larnaca (CW)
Netherlands AZ (3rd) Norway Lillestrøm (CW)
Netherlands Vitesse (PW)
First qualifying round
Croatia Osijek (4th) Bulgaria CSKA Sofia (2nd) Iceland Stjarnan (2nd) North Macedonia Shkupi (4th)
Romania Viitorul Constanța (4th) Bulgaria Levski Sofia (PW) Iceland FH (3rd) Estonia FCI Levadia (CW)
Denmark Nordsjælland (3rd) Serbia Partizan (CW) Finland KuPS (2nd) Estonia Nõmme Kalju (3rd)
Denmark Copenhagen (PW) Serbia Radnički Niš (3rd) Finland Ilves (3rd) Estonia Narva Trans (5th)[Note EST]
Belarus Dinamo Minsk (2nd) Serbia Spartak Subotica (4th) Finland Lahti (4th) Montenegro Titograd Podgorica (CW)
Belarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk (3rd) Kazakhstan Kairat (CW) Albania Luftëtari (3rd) Montenegro Budućnost Podgorica (2nd)
Poland Lech Poznań (3rd) Kazakhstan Irtysh (4th) Albania Laçi (4th) Montenegro Rudar Pljevlja (5th)[Note MNE]
Poland Górnik Zabrze (4th) Kazakhstan Tobol (5th)[Note KAZ] Albania Partizani (5th)[Note ALB] Armenia Gandzasar Kapan (CW)
Sweden AIK (2nd) Slovenia Maribor (2nd) Republic of Ireland Dundalk (2nd) Armenia Banants (2nd)
Sweden BK Häcken (4th) Slovenia Domžale (3rd) Republic of Ireland Shamrock Rovers (3rd) Armenia Pyunik (5th)[Note ARM]
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv (2nd) Slovenia Rudar Velenje (4th) Republic of Ireland Derry City (4th)[Note IRL] Luxembourg Racing Union (CW)
Israel Beitar Jerusalem (3rd) Slovakia Slovan Bratislava (CW) Bosnia and Herzegovina Željezničar (CW) Luxembourg Progrès Niederkorn (2nd)
Scotland Rangers (3rd) Slovakia DAC Dunajská Streda (3rd) Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo (3rd) Luxembourg Fola Esch (3rd)
Scotland Hibernian (4th) Slovakia Trenčín (PW) Bosnia and Herzegovina Široki Brijeg (4th) Northern Ireland Coleraine (CW)
Cyprus Apollon Limassol (2nd) Liechtenstein Vaduz (CW) Georgia (country) Chikhura Sachkhere (CW) Northern Ireland Glenavon (3rd)
Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta (3rd) Hungary Újpest (CW) Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi (2nd) Northern Ireland Cliftonville (PW)
Norway Molde (2nd) Hungary Ferencváros (2nd) Georgia (country) Samtredia (3rd) Lithuania Stumbras (CW)
Norway Sarpsborg 08 (3rd) Hungary Honvéd (4th) Latvia Liepāja (CW) Lithuania Žalgiris (2nd)
Azerbaijan Keşla (CW) Moldova Milsami Orhei (CW) Latvia Riga (3rd) Malta Balzan (2nd)
Azerbaijan Gabala (2nd) Moldova Petrocub Hîncești (3rd) Latvia Ventspils (4th) Wales Connah's Quay Nomads (CW)
Azerbaijan Neftçi (3rd) Moldova Zaria Bălți (5th)[Note MDA] North Macedonia Vardar (2nd) Faroe Islands NSÍ (CW)
Bulgaria Slavia Sofia (CW) Iceland ÍBV (CW) North Macedonia Rabotnicki (3rd)
Preliminary round
Lithuania Trakai (3rd) Wales Cefn Druids (PW) Gibraltar St Joseph's (3rd) San Marino Tre Fiori (3rd)
Malta Gżira United (3rd) Faroe Islands KÍ (2nd) Andorra Engordany (2nd) Kosovo Prishtina (CW)
Malta Birkirkara (4th) Faroe Islands B36 (3rd) Andorra Sant Julià (3rd)
Wales Bala Town (4th)[Note WAL] Gibraltar Europa (CW) San Marino Folgore (2nd)

Notably one team that was not playing a national top division took part in the competition; Vaduz (representing Liechtenstein) played in 2017–18 Swiss Challenge League, which is Switzerland's second tier.

Notes
  1. ^
    Albania (ALB): In March 2018, Skënderbeu was handed a 10-year ban from UEFA club competitions over match fixing.[14][15] Since they finished as champions of the 2017–18 Albanian Superliga, the runners-up of the league, Kukësi, entered the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League instead of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League. As a result, their Europa League first qualifying round berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Partizani.
  2. ^
    Armenia (ARM): Shirak would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017–18 Armenian Premier League, but were penalized by the Football Federation of Armenia for match fixing,[16] and subsequently informed UEFA their withdrawal from competing in the Europa League.[17] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Pyunik.[citation needed]
  3. ^
    Estonia (EST): FCI Tallinn would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017 Meistriliiga, but were disbanded and merged with Levadia Tallinn after the season.[18] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Narva Trans.
  4. ^
    Italy (ITA): Milan qualified for the Europa League group stage as the sixth-placed team of the 2017–18 Serie A, but were originally banned by UEFA from European competition due to violations of Financial Fair Play regulations.[19] They appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the ban was overturned on 20 July 2018.[20][21]
  5. ^
    Kazakhstan (KAZ): Ordabasy would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the third-placed team of the 2017 Kazakhstan Premier League, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[22] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Tobol.
  6. ^
    Moldova (MDA): Dacia Chișinău would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017 Moldovan National Division, but were disbanded after the season.[23] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Zaria Bălți.
  7. ^
    Montenegro (MNE): Grbalj would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017–18 Montenegrin First League, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[24] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Rudar Pljevlja.
  8. ^
    Portugal (POR): Desportivo das Aves would have qualified for the Europa League group stage as the winners of the 2017–18 Taça de Portugal, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[25] As a result, the third-placed team of the 2017–18 Primeira Liga, Sporting CP, entered the group stage instead of the third qualifying round, the fourth-placed team of the league, Braga, entered the third qualifying round instead of the second qualifying round, and the second qualifying round berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Rio Ave.
  9. ^
    Republic of Ireland (IRL): Derry City are a club based in Northern Ireland, but participate in the Europa League through one of the berths for the Republic of Ireland (any coefficient points they earn count toward Republic of Ireland and not Northern Ireland).
  10. ^
    Russia (RUS): Tosno would have qualified for the Europa League group stage as the winners of the 2017–18 Russian Cup, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[26] As a result, the fourth-placed team of the 2017–18 Russian Premier League, Krasnodar, entered the group stage instead of the third qualifying round, the fifth-placed team of the league, Zenit Saint Petersburg, entered the third qualifying round instead of the second qualifying round, and the second qualifying round berth was given to the sixth-placed team of the league, Ufa.
  11. ^
    Wales (WAL): Bangor City would have qualified for the Europa League preliminary round as the runners-up of the 2017–18 Welsh Premier League, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[27] As a result, and because the third-placed team Connah's Quay Nomads were Welsh Cup winners, the berth was given to the fourth-placed team of the league, Bala Town.
  12. ^
    Champions League (UCL Q1): Cork City were drawn from the first qualifying round losers to receive a bye to the third qualifying round, as one fewer loser from the Champions League first qualifying round were transferred to the Europa League second qualifying round (Champions Path), due to a Champions League group stage berth vacated by the Champions League title holders.[28]

Round and draw dates

[edit]

The schedule of the competition was as follows (all draws were held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, unless stated otherwise).[29]

Schedule for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Phase Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Qualifying Preliminary round 12 June 2018 28 June 2018 5 July 2018
First qualifying round 19 June 2018 (Champions Path)
20 June 2018 (Main Path) 		12 July 2018 19 July 2018
Second qualifying round 26 July 2018 2 August 2018
Third qualifying round 23 July 2018 9 August 2018 16 August 2018
Play-off Play-off round 6 August 2018 23 August 2018 30 August 2018
Group stage Matchday 1 31 August 2018
(Monaco) 		20 September 2018
Matchday 2 4 October 2018
Matchday 3 25 October 2018
Matchday 4 8 November 2018
Matchday 5 29 November 2018
Matchday 6 13 December 2018
Knockout phase Round of 32 17 December 2018 14 February 2019 21 February 2019
Round of 16 22 February 2019 7 March 2019 14 March 2019
Quarter-finals 15 March 2019 11 April 2019 18 April 2019
Semi-finals 2 May 2019 9 May 2019
Final 29 May 2019 at Olympic Stadium, Baku

Matches in the qualifying (including preliminary and play-off) and knockout rounds could also be played on Tuesdays or Wednesdays instead of the regular Thursdays due to scheduling conflicts.

From this season, the kick-off times starting from the group stage were slightly changed to 18:55 CET and 21:00 CET. Kick-off times starting from the quarter-finals were 21:00 CEST.[11]

Qualifying rounds

[edit]
Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds

In the qualifying and play-off rounds, teams were divided into seeded and unseeded teams based on their 2018 UEFA club coefficients (for Main Path),[30] or based on which round they qualified from (for Champions Path), and then drawn into two-legged home-and-away ties.

Preliminary round

[edit]

In the preliminary round, teams were divided into seeded and unseeded teams based on their 2018 UEFA club coefficients,[30] and then drawn into two-legged home-and-away ties. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other. The draw for the preliminary round was held on 12 June 2018.[31] The first legs were played on 26 and 28 June, and the second legs were played on 5 July 2018.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Europa Gibraltar1–6Kosovo Prishtina1–10–5
Sant Julià Andorra1–4Malta Gżira United0–21–2
Engordany Andorra3–2San Marino Folgore2–11–1
B36 Faroe Islands2–2 (4–2 p)Gibraltar St Joseph's1–11–1 (a.e.t.)
Birkirkara Malta2–3Faroe Islands KÍ1–11–2
Tre Fiori San Marino3–1Wales Bala Town3–00–1
Cefn Druids Wales1–2Lithuania Trakai1–10–1

First qualifying round

[edit]

The draw for the first qualifying round was held on 20 June 2018.[32] The first legs were played on 10, 11 and 12 July, and the second legs were played on 17, 18 and 19 July 2018.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Stjarnan Iceland3–1Estonia Nõmme Kalju3–00–1
Ilves Finland1–3Bulgaria Slavia Sofia0–11–2
KÍ Faroe Islands2–3Lithuania Žalgiris1–21–1
Fola Esch Luxembourg0–0 (5–4 p)Kosovo Prishtina0–00–0 (a.e.t.)
Glenavon Northern Ireland3–6Norway Molde2–11–5
DAC Dunajská Streda Slovakia3–2Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi1–12–1
Stumbras Lithuania1–2Cyprus Apollon Limassol1–00–2
Široki Brijeg Bosnia and Herzegovina3–3 (a)Slovenia Domžale2–21–1
Rangers Scotland2–0North Macedonia Shkupi2–00–0
Gabala Azerbaijan1–2[a]Luxembourg Progrès Niederkorn0–21–0
Racing Union Luxembourg0–2Romania Viitorul Constanța0–20–0
Samtredia Georgia (country)0–3Kazakhstan Tobol0–10–2
Partizani Albania0–3Slovenia Maribor0–10–2
Neftçi Azerbaijan3–5Hungary Újpest3–10–4
Budućnost Podgorica Montenegro1–3Slovakia Trenčín0–21–1
Derry City Republic of Ireland2–3Belarus Dinamo Minsk0–22–1
B36 Faroe Islands2–1Montenegro Titograd Podgorica0–02–1
Górnik Zabrze Poland2–1[a]Moldova Zaria Bălți1–01–1
Spartak Subotica Serbia3–1Northern Ireland Coleraine1–12–0
Pyunik Armenia3–0North Macedonia Vardar1–02–0
Shamrock Rovers Republic of Ireland1–2Sweden AIK0–11–1 (a.e.t.)
Connah's Quay Nomads Wales1–5Belarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk1–30–2
Lahti Finland0–3Iceland FH0–30–0
Ventspils Latvia8–3Albania Luftëtari5–03–3
Cliftonville Northern Ireland1–3Denmark Nordsjælland0–11–2
Banants Armenia1–5Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo1–20–3
Engordany Andorra1–10Kazakhstan Kairat0–31–7
Petrocub Hîncești Moldova2–3Croatia Osijek1–11–2
Anorthosis Famagusta Cyprus2–2 (a)Albania Laçi2–10–1
Ferencváros Hungary1–2Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv1–10–1
Balzan Malta5–3Azerbaijan Keşla4–11–2
Rabotnicki North Macedonia2–5[a]Hungary Honvéd2–10–4
Rudar Pljevlja Montenegro0–6Serbia Partizan0–30–3
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria1–1 (5–3 p)Latvia Riga1–00–1 (a.e.t.)
Milsami Orhei Moldova2–9Slovakia Slovan Bratislava2–40–5
Radnički Niš Serbia5–0Malta Gżira United4–01–0
Lech Poznań Poland3–2Armenia Gandzasar Kapan2–01–2
Chikhura Sachkhere Georgia (country)2–1Israel Beitar Jerusalem0–02–1
Vaduz Liechtenstein3–3 (a)Bulgaria Levski Sofia1–02–3
Narva Trans Estonia1–5[a]Bosnia and Herzegovina Željezničar0–21–3
Trakai Lithuania1–0Kazakhstan Irtysh0–01–0
Hibernian Scotland12–5Faroe Islands NSÍ6–16–4
Rudar Velenje Slovenia10–0San Marino Tre Fiori7–03–0
FCI Levadia Estonia1–3Republic of Ireland Dundalk0–11–2
ÍBV Iceland0–6Norway Sarpsborg 080–40–2
KuPS Finland1–2[a]Denmark Copenhagen0–11–1
Liepāja Latvia2–4Sweden BK Häcken0–32–1
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c d e Order of legs reversed after original draw.

Second qualifying round

[edit]

The second qualifying round was split into two separate sections: Champions Path (for league champions) and Main Path (for cup winners and league non-champions). The draw for the second qualifying round (Champions Path) was held on 19 June,[28] and the draw for the second qualifying round (Main Path) was held on 20 June 2018.[32] The first legs were played on 26 July, and the second legs were played on 31 July, 1 and 2 August 2018.

Champions Path
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Cork City Republic of IrelandByeN/A——
The New Saints Wales3–2Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps2–11–1
Torpedo Kutaisi Georgia (country)7–0Faroe Islands Víkingur Gøta3–04–0
Zrinjski Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina3–2Malta Valletta1–12–1
FC Santa Coloma Andorra1–3Iceland Valur1–00–3
Sutjeska Montenegro0–1Armenia Alashkert0–10–0
F91 Dudelange Luxembourg3–2Kosovo Drita2–11–1
Spartaks Jūrmala Latvia9–0San Marino La Fiorita6–03–0
APOEL Cyprus5–2Estonia Flora5–00–2
Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia6–2Northern Ireland Crusaders5–11–1
Main Path
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Molde Norway5–0Albania Laçi3–02–0
Atalanta Italy10–2[a]Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo2–28–0
Žalgiris Lithuania2–1Liechtenstein Vaduz1–01–1
Kairat Kazakhstan3–2Netherlands AZ2–01–2
Aberdeen Scotland2–4England Burnley1–11–3 (a.e.t.)
Partizan Serbia2–1Lithuania Trakai1–01–1
Balzan Malta3–4Slovakia Slovan Bratislava2–11–3
Nordsjælland Denmark2–0Sweden AIK1–01–0
Rudar Velenje Slovenia0–6Romania FCSB0–20–4
Hapoel Haifa Israel2–1Iceland FH1–11–0
Dundalk Republic of Ireland0–4Cyprus AEK Larnaca0–00–4
Górnik Zabrze Poland1–5Slovakia Trenčín0–11–4
Maccabi Tel Aviv Israel4–2Serbia Radnički Niš2–02–2
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria6–1Austria Flyeralarm Admira3–03–1
Spartak Subotica Serbia3–2Czech Republic Sparta Prague2–01–2
RB Leipzig Germany5–1Sweden BK Häcken4–01–1
Stjarnan Iceland0–7Denmark Copenhagen0–20–5
Ufa Russia1–1 (a)Slovenia Domžale0–01–1
Tobol Kazakhstan2–2 (a)Armenia Pyunik2–10–1
Jagiellonia Białystok Poland5–4Portugal Rio Ave1–04–4
LASK Austria6–1Norway Lillestrøm4–02–1
Honvéd Hungary1–2Luxembourg Progrès Niederkorn1–00–2
Osijek Croatia1–2Scotland Rangers0–11–1
B36 Faroe Islands0–8Turkey Beşiktaş0–20–6
DAC Dunajská Streda Slovakia2–7Belarus Dinamo Minsk1–31–4
Ventspils Latvia1–3France Bordeaux0–11–2
Željezničar Bosnia and Herzegovina2–5Cyprus Apollon Limassol1–21–3
Viitorul Constanța Romania3–5Netherlands Vitesse2–21–3
St. Gallen Switzerland2–2 (a)Norway Sarpsborg 082–10–1
Dynamo Brest Belarus5–4Greece Atromitos4–31–1
Sevilla Spain7–1Hungary Újpest4–03–1
Shakhtyor Soligorsk Belarus2–4Poland Lech Poznań1–11–3 (a.e.t.)
Hibernian Scotland4–3Greece Asteras Tripolis3–21–1
Chikhura Sachkhere Georgia (country)0–2Slovenia Maribor0–00–2
Genk Belgium9–1Luxembourg Fola Esch5–04–1
Djurgårdens IF Sweden2–3Ukraine Mariupol1–11–2 (a.e.t.)
Hajduk Split Croatia4–2Bulgaria Slavia Sofia1–03–2
Notes:
  1. ^ Order of legs reversed after original draw.

Third qualifying round

[edit]

The third qualifying round was split into two separate sections: Champions Path (for league champions) and Main Path (for cup winners and league non-champions). The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 23 July 2018.[33] The first legs were played on 7 and 9 August, and the second legs were played on 16 August 2018.

Champions Path
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria2–1Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski Mostar1–01–1
Legia Warsaw Poland3–4Luxembourg F91 Dudelange1–22–2
Alashkert Armenia0–7Romania CFR Cluj0–20–5
Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia7–1Finland HJK3–04–1
Sheriff Tiraspol Moldova2–2 (a)Iceland Valur1–01–2
Cork City Republic of Ireland0–5Norway Rosenborg0–20–3
Spartaks Jūrmala Latvia0–1Lithuania Sūduva0–10–0
The New Saints Wales1–5Denmark Midtjylland0–21–3
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Israel3–5Cyprus APOEL2–21–3
Torpedo Kutaisi Georgia (country)5–4Albania Kukësi5–20–2
Main Path
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Pyunik Armenia1–2Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv0–01–2
Dinamo Minsk Belarus5–8Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg4–01–8 (a.e.t.)
Sturm Graz Austria0–7Cyprus AEK Larnaca0–20–5
Sarpsborg 08 Norway2–1Croatia Rijeka1–11–0
İstanbul Başakşehir Turkey0–1England Burnley0–00–1 (a.e.t.)
Zorya Luhansk Ukraine3–3 (a)Portugal Braga1–12–2
Hapoel Haifa Israel1–6Italy Atalanta1–40–2
Genk Belgium4–1Poland Lech Poznań2–02–1
Vitesse Netherlands0–2Switzerland Basel0–10–1
Nordsjælland Denmark3–5Serbia Partizan1–22–3
Hibernian Scotland0–3Norway Molde0–00–3
Hajduk Split Croatia1–2Romania FCSB0–01–2
Sevilla Spain6–0Lithuania Žalgiris1–05–0
Sigma Olomouc Czech Republic4–1Kazakhstan Kairat2–02–1
Slovan Bratislava Slovakia2–5Austria Rapid Wien2–10–4
Mariupol Ukraine2–5France Bordeaux1–31–2
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria2–4Denmark Copenhagen1–21–2
Olympiacos Greece7–1Switzerland Luzern4–03–1
Rangers Scotland3–1Slovenia Maribor3–10–0
Trenčín Slovakia5–1Netherlands Feyenoord4–01–1
Jagiellonia Białystok Poland1–4Belgium Gent0–11–3
Spartak Subotica Serbia1–4Denmark Brøndby0–21–2
Ufa Russia4–3Luxembourg Progrès Niederkorn2–12–2
Beşiktaş Turkey2–2 (a)Austria LASK1–01–2
Apollon Limassol Cyprus4–1Belarus Dynamo Brest4–00–1
RB Leipzig Germany4–2Romania Universitatea Craiova3–11–1

Play-off round

[edit]
Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League play-off round

The play-off round was split into two separate sections: Champions Path (for league champions) and Main Path (for cup winners and league non-champions). The draw for the play-off round was held on 6 August 2018.[34] The first legs were played on 23 August, and the second legs were played on 30 August 2018.

Champions Path
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia1–3Slovakia Spartak Trnava0–21–1
APOEL Cyprus1–1 (1–2 p)Kazakhstan Astana1–00–1 (a.e.t.)
Rosenborg Norway5–1North Macedonia Shkëndija3–12–0
F91 Dudelange Luxembourg5–2Romania CFR Cluj2–03–2
Sūduva Lithuania1–4Scotland Celtic1–10–3
Sheriff Tiraspol Moldova1–3Azerbaijan Qarabağ1–00–3
Malmö FF Sweden4–2Denmark Midtjylland2–22–0
Torpedo Kutaisi Georgia (country)0–5Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad0–10–4
Main Path
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Sigma Olomouc Czech Republic0–4Spain Sevilla0–10–3
Sarpsborg 08 Norway4–3Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv3–11–2
Gent Belgium0–2France Bordeaux0–00–2
Partizan Serbia1–4Turkey Beşiktaş1–10–3
Rapid Wien Austria4–3Romania FCSB3–11–2
Basel Switzerland3–3 (a)[a]Cyprus Apollon Limassol3–20–1
Rangers Scotland2–1Russia Ufa1–01–1
Atalanta Italy0–0 (3–4 p)Denmark Copenhagen0–00–0 (a.e.t.)
Zenit Saint Petersburg Russia4–3Norway Molde3–11–2
Trenčín Slovakia1–4Cyprus AEK Larnaca1–10–3
Genk Belgium9–4Denmark Brøndby5–24–2
Olympiacos Greece4–2England Burnley3–11–1
Zorya Luhansk Ukraine2–3Germany RB Leipzig0–02–3
Notes:
  1. ^ Order of legs reversed after original draw.

Group stage

[edit]
Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League group stage
2018–19 UEFA Europa League is located in Europe
Rapid
Salzburg
Qarabağ
BATE
Anderlecht
Genk
Standard
Ludogorets
Dinamo Z.
AEK
Apollon
Jablonec
Slavia
Copenhagen
London
London
Bordeaux
Marseille
Rennes
Leverkusen
Eintracht
Leipzig
Olympiacos
PAOK
Vidi
Lazio
Milan
Astana (not on map)
Astana
(not on map)
2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Dudelange
Rosenborg
Sarpsborg
Sporting
Krasnodar
Spartak M.
Zenit
Glasgow
Glasgow
Spartak T.
Seville
Seville
Villarreal
Malmö
Zürich
Akhisarspor
Istanbul
Istanbul
Dynamo K.
Vorskla
Glasgow teams Celtic Rangers Istanbul teams Beşiktaş Fenerbahçe London teams Arsenal Chelsea Seville teams Real Betis Sevilla



class=notpageimage|
Location of teams of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Brown: Group A; Green: Group B; Deep Pink: Group C; Yellow: Group D;
Red: Group E; Cyan: Group F; Blue: Group G; Purple: Group H;
Pink: Group I; Turquoise: Group J; Spring Green: Group K; Orange: Group L.

The draw for the group stage was held on 31 August 2018 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.[35] The 48 teams were drawn into twelve groups of four, with the restriction that teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other. For the draw, the teams are seeded into four pots based on their 2018 UEFA club coefficients.[30]

In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The group winners and runners-up advance to the round of 32 where they are joined by the eight third-placed teams of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League group stage. The matchdays are 20 September, 4 October, 25 October, 8 November, 29 November, and 13 December 2018.

A total of 27 national associations were represented in the group stage. Akhisarspor, Chelsea, F91 Dudelange, Jablonec, Rangers, RB Leipzig, Sarpsborg 08, Spartak Moscow and Spartak Trnava made their debut appearances in the UEFA Europa League group stage (although Chelsea, Rangers, RB Leipzig and Spartak Moscow had already competed in the UEFA Europa League knockout phase after a third place in the UEFA Champions League group stage, while Rangers and Spartak Moscow had appeared in the UEFA Cup group stage). Akhisarspor and Sarpsborg 08 made their debuts in any European football. F91 Dudelange were the first team from Luxembourg to play in either the Champions League or Europa League group stage.[36]

Group A

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LEV ZUR AKL LUD
1 Germany Bayer Leverkusen 6 4 1 1 16 9 +7 13 Advance to knockout phase — 1–0 4–2 1–1
2 Switzerland Zürich 6 3 1 2 7 6 +1 10 3–2 — 1–2 1–0
3 Cyprus AEK Larnaca 6 1 2 3 6 12 −6 5 1–5 0–1 — 1–1
4 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 6 0 4 2 5 7 −2 4 2–3 1–1 0–0 —
Source: UEFA

Group B

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAL CEL RBL ROS
1 Austria Red Bull Salzburg 6 6 0 0 17 6 +11 18 Advance to knockout phase — 3–1 1–0 3–0
2 Scotland Celtic 6 3 0 3 6 8 −2 9 1–2 — 2–1 1–0
3 Germany RB Leipzig 6 2 1 3 9 8 +1 7 2–3 2–0 — 1–1
4 Norway Rosenborg 6 0 1 5 4 14 −10 1 2–5 0–1 1–3 —
Source: UEFA

Group C

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ZEN SLP BOR KOB
1 Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg 6 3 2 1 6 5 +1 11 Advance to knockout phase — 1–0 2–1 1–0
2 Czech Republic Slavia Prague 6 3 1 2 4 3 +1 10 2–0 — 1–0 0–0
3 France Bordeaux 6 2 1 3 6 6 0 7 1–1 2–0 — 1–2
4 Denmark Copenhagen 6 1 2 3 3 5 −2 5 1–1 0–1 0–1 —
Source: UEFA

Group D

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DZG FEN SPT AND
1 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 6 4 2 0 11 3 +8 14 Advance to knockout phase — 4–1 3–1 0–0
2 Turkey Fenerbahçe 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8 0–0 — 2–0 2–0
3 Slovakia Spartak Trnava 6 2 1 3 4 7 −3 7 1–2 1–0 — 1–0
4 Belgium Anderlecht 6 0 3 3 2 7 −5 3 0–2 2–2 0–0 —
Source: UEFA

Group E

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ARS SPO VOR QRB
1 England Arsenal 6 5 1 0 12 2 +10 16 Advance to knockout phase — 0–0 4–2 1–0
2 Portugal Sporting CP 6 4 1 1 13 3 +10 13 0–1 — 3–0 2–0
3 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava 6 1 0 5 4 13 −9 3[a] 0–3 1–2 — 0–1
4 Azerbaijan Qarabağ 6 1 0 5 2 13 −11 3[a] 0–3 1–6 0–1 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Goal difference in all group matches: Vorskla Poltava –9, Qarabağ –11.

Group F

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BET OLY MIL DUD
1 Spain Real Betis 6 3 3 0 7 2 +5 12 Advance to knockout phase — 1–0 1–1 3–0
2 Greece Olympiacos 6 3 1 2 11 6 +5 10[a] 0–0 — 3–1 5–1
3 Italy Milan 6 3 1 2 12 9 +3 10[a] 1–2 3–1 — 5–2
4 Luxembourg F91 Dudelange 6 0 1 5 3 16 −13 1 0–0 0–2 0–1 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Goal difference in all group matches: Olympiacos +5, Milan +3.

Group G

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VIL RW RAN SPM
1 Spain Villarreal 6 2 4 0 12 5 +7 10[a] Advance to knockout phase — 5–0 2–2 2–0
2 Austria Rapid Wien 6 3 1 2 6 9 −3 10[a] 0–0 — 1–0 2–0
3 Scotland Rangers 6 1 3 2 8 8 0 6 0–0 3–1 — 0–0
4 Russia Spartak Moscow 6 1 2 3 8 12 −4 5 3–3 1–2 4–3 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Villarreal 4, Rapid Wien 1.

Group H

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification FRA LAZ APL MAR
1 Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 6 6 0 0 17 5 +12 18 Advance to knockout phase — 4–1 2–0 4–0
2 Italy Lazio 6 3 0 3 9 11 −2 9 1–2 — 2–1 2–1
3 Cyprus Apollon Limassol 6 2 1 3 10 10 0 7 2–3 2–0 — 2–2
4 France Marseille 6 0 1 5 6 16 −10 1 1–2 1–3 1–3 —
Source: UEFA

Group I

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GNK MAL BES SRP
1 Belgium Genk 6 3 2 1 14 8 +6 11 Advance to knockout phase — 2–0 1–1 4–0
2 Sweden Malmö FF 6 2 3 1 7 6 +1 9 2–2 — 2–0 1–1
3 Turkey Beşiktaş 6 2 1 3 9 11 −2 7 2–4 0–1 — 3–1
4 Norway Sarpsborg 08 6 1 2 3 8 13 −5 5 3–1 1–1 2–3 —
Source: UEFA

Group J

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEV KRA STL AKH
1 Spain Sevilla 6 4 0 2 18 6 +12 12[a] Advance to knockout phase — 3–0 5–1 6–0
2 Russia Krasnodar 6 4 0 2 8 8 0 12[a] 2–1 — 2–1 2–1
3 Belgium Standard Liège 6 3 1 2 7 9 −2 10 1–0 2–1 — 2–1
4 Turkey Akhisarspor 6 0 1 5 4 14 −10 1 2–3 0–1 0–0 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head goal difference: Sevilla +2, Krasnodar –2.

Group K

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DKV REN AST JAB
1 Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 6 3 2 1 10 7 +3 11 Advance to knockout phase — 3–1 2–2 0–1
2 France Rennes 6 3 0 3 7 8 −1 9 1–2 — 2–0 2–1
3 Kazakhstan Astana 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8 0–1 2–0 — 2–1
4 Czech Republic Jablonec 6 1 2 3 6 8 −2 5 2–2 0–1 1–1 —
Source: UEFA

Group L

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification CHL BATE VID PAOK
1 England Chelsea 6 5 1 0 12 3 +9 16 Advance to knockout phase — 3–1 1–0 4–0
2 Belarus BATE Borisov 6 3 0 3 9 9 0 9 0–1 — 2–0 1–4
3 Hungary MOL Vidi 6 2 1 3 5 7 −2 7 2–2 0–2 — 1–0
4 Greece PAOK 6 1 0 5 5 12 −7 3 0–1 1–3 0–2 —
Source: UEFA

Knockout phase

[edit]
Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League knockout phase

In the knockout phase, teams played against each other over two legs on a home-and-away basis, except for the one-match final.

The mechanism of the draws for each round was as follows:

  • In the draw for the round of 32, the twelve group winners and the four third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage with the better group records were seeded, and the twelve group runners-up and the other four third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage were unseeded. The seeded teams were drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg. Teams from the same group or the same association could not be drawn against each other.
  • In the draws for the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, there were no seedings, and teams from the same group or the same association could be drawn against each other. As the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals were held together before the quarter-finals were played, the identity of the quarter-final winners was not known at the time of the semi-final draw. A draw was also held to determine which semi-final winner was designated as the "home" team for the final (for administrative purposes as it was played at a neutral venue).

Bracket

[edit]
Round of 32Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň202
Croatia Dinamo Zagreb134 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb101
Turkey Galatasaray101Portugal Benfica (a.e.t.)033
Portugal Benfica202 Portugal Benfica404
Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk213Germany Eintracht Frankfurt (a)224
Germany Eintracht Frankfurt246 Germany Eintracht Frankfurt011
Austria Rapid Wien000Italy Inter Milan000
Italy Inter Milan145 Germany Eintracht Frankfurt112 (3)
Italy Lazio000England Chelsea (p)112 (4)
Spain Sevilla123 Spain Sevilla235
Czech Republic Slavia Prague044Czech Republic Slavia Prague (a.e.t.)246
Belgium Genk011 Czech Republic Slavia Prague033
Sweden Malmö FF101England Chelsea145
England Chelsea235 England Chelsea358
Greece Olympiacos202Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv000 29 May – Baku
Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv213 England Chelsea4
France Rennes336England Arsenal1
Spain Real Betis314 France Rennes303
Belarus BATE Borisov101England Arsenal134
England Arsenal033 England Arsenal213
Switzerland Zürich101Italy Napoli000
Italy Napoli325 Italy Napoli314
Belgium Club Brugge202Austria Red Bull Salzburg033
Austria Red Bull Salzburg145 England Arsenal347
Turkey Fenerbahçe112Spain Valencia123
Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg033 Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg112
Portugal Sporting CP011Spain Villarreal325
Spain Villarreal112 Spain Villarreal101
Scotland Celtic000Spain Valencia325
Spain Valencia213 Spain Valencia213
Russia Krasnodar (a)011Russia Krasnodar112
Germany Bayer Leverkusen011

Round of 32

[edit]

The draw for the round of 32 was held on 17 December 2018.[37] The first legs were played on 12 and 14 February, and the second legs were played on 20 and 21 February 2019.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Viktoria Plzeň Czech Republic2–4Croatia Dinamo Zagreb2–10–3
Club Brugge Belgium2–5Austria Red Bull Salzburg2–10–4
Rapid Wien Austria0–5Italy Inter Milan0–10–4
Slavia Prague Czech Republic4–1Belgium Genk0–04–1
Krasnodar Russia1–1 (a)Germany Bayer Leverkusen0–01–1
Zürich Switzerland1–5Italy Napoli1–30–2
Malmö FF Sweden1–5England Chelsea1–20–3
Shakhtar Donetsk Ukraine3–6Germany Eintracht Frankfurt2–21–4
Celtic Scotland0–3Spain Valencia0–20–1
Rennes France6–4Spain Real Betis3–33–1
Olympiacos Greece2–3Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv2–20–1
Lazio Italy0–3Spain Sevilla0–10–2
Fenerbahçe Turkey2–3Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg1–01–3
Sporting CP Portugal1–2Spain Villarreal0–11–1
BATE Borisov Belarus1–3England Arsenal1–00–3
Galatasaray Turkey1–2Portugal Benfica1–20–0

Round of 16

[edit]

The draw for the round of 16 was held on 22 February 2019.[38] The first legs were played on 7 March, and the second legs were played on 14 March 2019.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Chelsea England8–0Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv3–05–0
Eintracht Frankfurt Germany1–0Italy Inter Milan0–01–0
Dinamo Zagreb Croatia1–3Portugal Benfica1–00–3 (a.e.t.)
Napoli Italy4–3Austria Red Bull Salzburg3–01–3
Valencia Spain3–2Russia Krasnodar2–11–1
Sevilla Spain5–6Czech Republic Slavia Prague2–23–4 (a.e.t.)
Rennes France3–4[a]England Arsenal3–10–3
Zenit Saint Petersburg Russia2–5Spain Villarreal1–31–2
Notes:
  1. ^ Order of legs reversed after original draw, in order to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Chelsea v Dynamo Kyiv match in the same city.

Quarter-finals

[edit]

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 15 March 2019.[39] The first legs were played on 11 April, the second legs were played on 18 April 2019.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Arsenal England3–0[a]Italy Napoli2–01–0
Villarreal Spain1–5Spain Valencia1–30–2
Benfica Portugal4–4 (a)Germany Eintracht Frankfurt4–20–2
Slavia Prague Czech Republic3–5England Chelsea0–13–4
Notes:
  1. ^ Order of legs reversed after original draw, in order to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Chelsea v Slavia Prague match in the same city.

Semi-finals

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The draw for the semi-finals was held on 15 March 2019 (after the quarter-final draw).[39] The first legs were played on 2 May, and the second legs were played on 9 May 2019.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Arsenal England7–3Spain Valencia3–14–2
Eintracht Frankfurt Germany2–2 (3–4 p)England Chelsea1–11–1 (a.e.t.)

Final

[edit]
Main article: 2019 UEFA Europa League final

The final was played on 29 May 2019 at the Olympic Stadium in Baku. The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws.[39]

Chelsea England4–1England Arsenal
 Report
Attendance: 51,370[40]

Statistics

[edit]

Statistics exclude qualifying rounds and play-off round.

Top goalscorers

[edit]
Rank[41] Player Team Goals Minutes played
1 France Olivier Giroud England Chelsea 11 1124
2 Serbia Luka Jović Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 10 953
3 France Wissam Ben Yedder Spain Sevilla 8 621
Israel Mu'nas Dabbur Austria Red Bull Salzburg 856
Gabon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang England Arsenal 934
6 Norway Fredrik Gulbrandsen Austria Red Bull Salzburg 5 429
Argentina Giovani Lo Celso Spain Real Betis 563
France Alexandre Lacazette England Arsenal 651
France Sébastien Haller Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 770
Spain Pedro England Chelsea 944

Top assists

[edit]
Rank[41] Player Team Assists Minutes played
1 Belarus Ihar Stasevich Belarus BATE Borisov 7 704
Brazil Willian England Chelsea 899
3 Serbia Mijat Gaćinović Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 6 1126
4 Austria Andreas Ulmer Austria Red Bull Salzburg 5 900
France Olivier Giroud England Chelsea 1124
6 Ukraine Viktor Tsyhankov Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 4 804
Spain Pedro England Chelsea 944
8 24 players 3 —

Squad of the Season

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The UEFA technical study group selected the following 18 players as the squad of the tournament.[42]

Pos. Player Team
GK Germany Kevin Trapp Germany Eintracht Frankfurt
Spain Kepa Arrizabalaga England Chelsea
DF Spain Álex Grimaldo Portugal Benfica
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sead Kolašinac England Arsenal
France Laurent Koscielny England Arsenal
Brazil David Luiz England Chelsea
Spain César Azpilicueta England Chelsea
Germany Danny da Costa Germany Eintracht Frankfurt
MF Japan Makoto Hasebe Germany Eintracht Frankfurt
Serbia Filip Kostić Germany Eintracht Frankfurt
Italy Jorginho England Chelsea
France N'Golo Kanté England Chelsea
FW Gabon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang England Arsenal
France Olivier Giroud England Chelsea
Serbia Luka Jović Germany Eintracht Frankfurt
Portugal João Félix Portugal Benfica
Spain Pedro England Chelsea
Belgium Eden Hazard England Chelsea

Player of the Season

[edit]

Votes were cast by coaches of the 48 teams in the group stage, together with 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, representing each of UEFA's member associations. The coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own teams. Jury members selected their top three players, with the first receiving five points, the second three and the third one. The shortlist of the top three players was announced on 8 August 2019.[43] The award winner was announced during the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League group stage draw in Monaco on 30 August 2019.

Rank Player Team Points
Shortlist of top three
1 Belgium Eden Hazard[1] England Chelsea 340
2 France Olivier Giroud England Chelsea 119
3 Serbia Luka Jović Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 94
Players ranked 4–10
4 Gabon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang England Arsenal 65
5 France Alexandre Lacazette England Arsenal 19
6 France N'Golo Kanté England Chelsea 16
7 Portugal João Félix Portugal Benfica 12
8 Brazil Willian England Chelsea 11
9 France Sébastien Haller Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 9
Spain Pedro England Chelsea

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Eden Hazard named Europa League Player of the Season". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Baku to host 2019 UEFA Europa League final". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Real Madrid and Spain top UEFA rankings again". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 29 May 2018.
  4. ^ "VAR to be used in UEFA Champions League knockout phase". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Evolution of UEFA club competitions for 2018–21 cycle". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Lyon to host 2018 UEFA Europa League final". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Access list for the 2018/19 UEFA club competitions" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "2018/19 UEFA Europa League regulations" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Timeline for UEFA Presidential elections decided". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Country coefficients 2016/17". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Champions League and Europa League changes next season". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Access list for the 2018/19 UEFA club competitions (modified)". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  13. ^ "2018/19 UEFA Europa League participants". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  14. ^ Lisaku, Ervin (29 March 2018). "Albania's Skenderbeu handed 10-year ban over match-fixing in worst ever UEFA punishment". Tirana Times.
  15. ^ Erebara, Gjergj (30 March 2018). "Albania's Skenderbeu handed 10-year ban over match-fixing in worst ever UEFA punishment". Balkan Insight.
  16. ^ "ՀՖՖ կարգապահական կոմիտեի 05.05.2018թ. որոշման կիրառման պարզաբանումը". Football Federation of Armenia. 19 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Termination Order" (PDF). Football Federation of Armenia. 5 June 2018.
  18. ^ "FC Levadia ja FCI Tallinn alustasid ühinemisprotsessi". Delfi Sport. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  19. ^ "AC Milan get two-year Europe ban over Financial Fair Play regulations". skysports.com. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Milan in Europa League: accolto il ricorso al Tas". Corriere dello Sport. 20 July 2018.
  21. ^ "AC Milan v. UEFA: CAS annuls the sanction and refers the case back to UEFA to issue a proportionate disciplinary measure" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 20 July 2018.
  22. ^ ""Шымкент без еврокубков". Казахстанская федерация футбола отклонила апелляцию "Ордабасы"". Vesti.kz. 3 May 2018.
  23. ^ "FC Dacia Chișinău se desființează. Suporterii intenționează să salveze echipa" (in Romanian). deschide.md. 20 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Budućnost i Rudar idu u LE, Grbalj bez licence". rtcg.me. 31 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Desportivo das Aves candidatou-se à UEFA fora do prazo previsto". sapo.pt. 21 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Глава отдела лицензирования РФС: "Тосно" не подавал документы на лицензирование в еврокубках, по остальным информация скоро появится»" (in Russian). sportbox.ru. 10 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Decisions of the FAW Club Licensing Appeals Body". Football Association of Wales. 26 April 2018.
  28. ^ a b "UEFA Europa League second qualifying round champions path draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  29. ^ "2018/19 Europa League match and draw calendar". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  30. ^ a b c "Club coefficients". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  31. ^ "UEFA Europa League preliminary round draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  32. ^ a b "UEFA Europa League first and second qualifying round main path draws". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  33. ^ "UEFA Europa League third qualifying round draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  34. ^ "UEFA Europa League play-off draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  35. ^ "UEFA Europa League group stage draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  36. ^ "Europa League group stage number crunching". UEFA.org. Union of European Football Associations. 31 August 2018.
  37. ^ "UEFA Europa League round of 32 draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  38. ^ "UEFA Europa League round of 16 draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  39. ^ a b c "UEFA Europa League quarter-final, semi-final and final draws". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations.
  40. ^ "Full Time Summary Final – Chelsea v Arsenal" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  41. ^ a b "Statistics — Tournament phase — Players". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  42. ^ "UEFA Europa League Squad of the 2018/19 Season". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 30 May 2019.
  43. ^ "Europa League Player of the Season Contenders". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
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