The 2025-26 Europa League will get totally underneath method this week – with the weird format of 9 matches happening on Wednesday evening.
Nottingham Forest and Celtic are among the many 18 groups in motion on the opening evening, whereas Aston Villa and Rangers start their campaigns within the extra conventional Thursday evening slot.
Very like the Champions League's return final week, the upcoming matches are a part of an unique week for the Europa League, with no Champions League or Convention League fixtures scheduled.
Historically, all matches within the competitors happen on a Thursday evening. That can stay the case all through the remainder of the Europa League season.
The unique week of matches for all three of Europe's membership competitions began final season and have remained in place this time period.
The ‘unique' idea permits Uefa to showcase its main European competitions and provides all three editions their very own sole focus.
Whereas the Champions League's unique spherical passed off final week, the Convention League's ultimate spherical of league section matches on Thursday, 18 December, are additionally being performed as an unique match week.
