Champions League eight transfer to Europa League
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
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Holders Sevilla, Manchester United and four other former winners have switched to the UEFA Europa League after finishing third in their UEFA Champions League groups.
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Sevilla could lift the UEFA Europa League title for the third time in as many seasons after finishing third in their UEFA Champions League group.
The holders were one of four teams to confirm their competition switch on Tuesday, along with Manchester United and former UEFA Cup winners Galatasaray (2000) and Shakhtar Donetsk (2009).
Four more clubs joined them on Wednesday: two-time winners Porto, 2004 champions Valencia, Greek title holders Olympiacos and Bayer Leverkusen.
The eight sides will line up in Monday's UEFA Europa League round of 32 draw at 13.00CET. The four teams with the best record in the UEFA Champions League group stage will be in the seeded pot along with the UEFA Europa League group winners; the remaining four will be unseeded together with the UEFA Europa League runners-up. No team can play a club from their own country.
Third-placed teams
Seeded: Porto, Olympiacos, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen
Unseeded: Sevilla, Valencia, Galatasaray, Shakhtar Donetsk
Clubs switching from the UEFA Champions League can meet each other so there is the prospect of Manchester United being drawn with Gary Neville and Valencia.
