Manchester United UEFA Europa League 2024-25 schedule: Red ...

Manchester United will kick off their UEFA Europa League 2024-25 campaign on Thursday, September 26 with a home game against the Eredivisie club FC Twente at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils won their first UEFA Europa League (UEL) title in the 2016-17 season, where they defeated Ajax 2-0 for the crown. They lost to Spanish club Villarreal on penalties in the 2020-21 UEL final.

This season, Man United will be without the services of Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial, who have all left the football club. Jadon Sancho has also been loaned out to fellow English club Chelsea.

However, Man United have brought on board five major signings to fill in the voids. Young Frenchman Leny Yoro has joined from LOSC Lille and Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have joined from Bayern Munich, whereas Joshua Zirkzee has come in from Bologna to strengthen the attack.

The UEL 2024-25 season will be the first time the new UEFA Europa League format will be introduced, which is similar to the new UEFA Champions League format. A total of 36 clubs, instead of 32, spread across Europe will battle in a league phase, in contrast to a group stage.

Each of the 36 teams will play eight matches against eight different opponents. Four matches will be held at home and four away. The results of the matches will determine their standings on the league table.

The top eight teams will qualify automatically for the round of 16. Clubs finishing 9th to 24th in the league will play in a two-legged knock-out phase play-offs to decide the remaining eight places for the round of 16. Teams finishing 25th or below will be eliminated.

The usual knockout rounds will follow till the final, which will take place on May 21 at the Estadio de San Mames in Bilbao, Spain.

Manchester United will play FC Twente, FC Porto, Fenerbahce SK, PAOK, FK Bodo/Glimt, FC Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and FCSB in the UEFA Europa League 2024-25 league phase. Their away fixtures are against Porto, Fenerbahce, Viktoria Plzen and FCSB.

United will clash against the Portuguese giants FC Porto on October 4 at the Estadio do Dragao. They have met six times before on the continental stage with the United holding an edge with two wins, three draws and one loss.

Apart from the UEL 2024-25, Manchester United will simultaneously compete in the English Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

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