EUROPA LEAGUE
Europa League 2023/24 playoffs and round of 16 draw: dates, opponents, format
UEFA’s second club competition has some illustrious names vying for the title this season so check out all you need to know for the coming months.
Liverpool and AC Milan are two names more commonly associated with UEFA’s Champions League but this year find themselves competing in the knockout stage of the Europa League, the continent’s second club competition. Other potential winners of the trophy - and an automatic place in next season’s Champions League - include West Ham and Brighton from the English Premier League, Atalanta and Roma from Serie A, as well as the likes of Benfica, Marseille and Rangers.
Before we can assess the round of 16 clashes, there will be a playoff between those teams that finished second in their UEL groups and the sides that dropped down after ending their UCL campaign in third place. Eight teams, including Liverpool, will skip one round of the competition as a result.
What are the Europa League knockout round playoff games?
The draw on Monday 18 December gave us the following matchups for the playoff:
2023/24 UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off
- Benfica vs Toulouse
- Braga vs Qarabag
- Feyenoord vs Roma
- Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague
- Lens vs Freiburg
- Milan vs Rennes
- Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille
- Young Boys vs Sporting CP
When are the Europa League knockout round playoff games?
The Europa League knockout round playoff games are scheduled for 15 (first leg) and 22 (second leg) February 2024.
Which teams await the winners of the Europa League playoffs?
Having finished top of their respective groups, the following teams are already into the round of 16:
Europa League round of 16 (qualified)
- Atalanta
- Brighton and Hove Albion
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Liverpool
- Rangers
- Slavia Praha
- Villarreal
- West Ham
When is the draw for the Europa League round of 16?
The draw for the Europa League Round of 16 is set to take place on 23 February 2024.
When are the Europa League round of 16 games?
The Europa League Round of 16 games are scheduled for 7 (first leg) and 14 (second leg) March 2024.
When is the Europa League quarterfinal / semifinal draw?
The draw for the Europa League quarterfinals and semifinals is scheduled for 15 March 2024.
When are the Europa League quarterfinal / semifinal games?
The Europa League quarterfinal games are slated for 11 (first leg) and 18 (second leg) April 2024. The semifinal games are planned for 2 (first leg) and 9 (second leg) May 2024.
Where and when is the Europa League final?
The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final will be held at the Dublin Arena in the Republic of Ireland on 22 May 2024.
The final of the 2011 edition of the tournament was also held at the same venue, with Portuguese side Porto defeating compatriots Braga on that occasion.
Last season, Sevilla defeated Roma in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the final in Budapest. That ensured the Spanish side won the competition for a record-extending seventh time, although they will be unable to add to that this term having already been eliminated from European competition.