UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off draw: What is it? Where to watch it? Who are the teams?
Monday, December 18, 2023
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When is the draw for the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off? What is it? Who is involved? How does it work? Where can I watch it?
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The UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs feature 16 teams: the eight runners-up from the Europa League group stage and the eight third-placed teams from the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The stage was introduced in 2022/23, with the winners of the eight play-off ties advancing to March's Europa League round of 16, where they join the eight group winners.
When is the Europa League knockout round play-off draw?
The Europa League knockout round play-off draw takes place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, at 13:00 CET on Monday 18 December.
Where can I watch the Europa League knockout round play-off draw?
The live stream will appear on this link.
Which teams are in the Europa League knockout round play-off draw?
There are 16 teams in the draw: the eight runners-up from the Europa League group stage will be seeded; the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage will be unseeded.
Seeded teams
Freiburg (GER)
Marseille (FRA)
Qarabağ (AZE)
Rennes (FRA)
Roma (ITA)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Sporting CP (POR)
Toulouse (FRA)
Unseeded teams
Benfica (POR)
Braga (POR)
Feyenoord (NED)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Lens (FRA)
Milan (ITA)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Young Boys (SUI)
Can teams from the same country face each other in Europa League knockout round play-off?
No side can face another team from the same national association.
Is the Europa League knockout round play-off over two legs?
Ties take place over two legs, with seeded teams at home in the second legs.
A reminder that the so-called away goals rule has been removed, so ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time irrespective of the number of goals each team has scored at home and away. If the teams still cannot be separated after the additional 30 minutes, the tie goes to a penalty shoot-out.
When is the the Europa League knockout round play-off?
The first legs are scheduled for 15 February, with the second legs a week later on 22 February.
What happens next?
The winners of the eight ties will join the eight Europa League group winners in the round of 16, with the draw scheduled for 23 February. The losers are out of 2023/24 European competition.
Where is the 2024 final?
The 2023/24 Europa League season will conclude at the Dublin Arena in the Republic of Ireland on 22 May.