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2018–19 UEFA Europa League - Wikipedia
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2018–19 UEFA Europa League

The 2018–19 UEFA Europa League was the 48th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 10th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League.

2018–19 UEFA Europa League
The Olympic Stadium in Baku hosted the final.
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
26 June – 30 August 2018
Competition proper:
20 September 2018 – 29 May 2019
TeamsCompetition proper: 48+8
Total: 158+55 (from 55 associations)
Final positions
ChampionsEngland Chelsea (2nd title)
Runners-upEngland Arsenal
Tournament statistics
Matches played205
Goals scored565 (2.76 per match)
Attendance5,038,109 (24,576 per match)
Top scorer(s)Olivier Giroud (Chelsea)
11 goals
Best player(s)Eden Hazard (Chelsea)[1]

The final was played at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan,[2] between English sides Chelsea and Arsenal – which was the first Europa League final to feature two teams from one city and was also the first time that 4 Premier League representatives (teams) were in both European finals. Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4–1 and earned the right to play against Liverpool, the winners of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup. As winners, Chelsea would also have been qualified for the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League group stage; however, since they had already qualified after finishing third in the Premier League, the berth reserved was given to the third-placed team of the 2018–19 Ligue 1 (Lyon) – the 5th-ranked association according to next season's access list.[3]

For the first time, the video assistant referee (VAR) system was used in the competition, where it was implemented in the final.[4]

As the title holders of the Europa League, Atlético Madrid qualified for the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, although they had already qualified before the final through their league performance. They were unable to defend their title as they advanced to the Champions League knockout stage, and were eliminated by Juventus in the round of 16.

Format changes

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On 9 December 2016, UEFA confirmed the reforming plan for the UEFA Champions League for the 2018–2021 cycle, which was announced on 26 August 2016.[5][6] As per the new regulations, all teams that are eliminated in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds will get a second chance in the Europa League.

Association team allocation

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213 teams from all 55 UEFA member associations participated in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League. The association ranking based on the UEFA country coefficients was used to determine the number of participating teams for each association:[7][8]

  • Associations 1–51 (except Liechtenstein) each had three teams qualify.
  • Associations 52–54 each had two teams qualify.
  • Liechtenstein and Kosovo (association 55) each had one team qualify (Liechtenstein organised only a domestic cup and no domestic league; Kosovo as per decision by the UEFA Executive Committee).[9]
  • Moreover, 55 teams eliminated from the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League were transferred to the Europa League (default number was 57, but 2 fewer teams competed in the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League).

Association ranking

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For the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, the associations were allocated places according to their 2017 UEFA country coefficients, which took into account their performance in European competitions from 2012–13 to 2016–17.[10]

Apart from the allocation based on the country coefficients, associations could have additional teams participating in the Champions League, as noted below:

  • (UCL) – Additional teams transferred from the UEFA Champions League
Association ranking for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Rank Association Coeff. Teams Notes
1   Spain 104.998 3 +1 (UCL)
2   Germany 79.498
3   England 75.962
4   Italy 73.332 +2 (UCL)
5   France 56.665
6   Russia 50.532 +1 (UCL)
7   Portugal 49.332 +1 (UCL)
8   Ukraine 42.633 +2 (UCL)
9   Belgium 42.400 +2 (UCL)
10   Turkey 39.200 +2 (UCL)
11   Czech Republic 33.175 +2 (UCL)
12   Switzerland 32.075 +1 (UCL)
13   Netherlands 31.063
14   Greece 27.900 +1 (UCL)
15   Austria 25.350 +2 (UCL)
16   Croatia 25.250 +1 (UCL)
17   Romania 24.350 +1 (UCL)
18   Denmark 24.000 +1 (UCL)
19   Belarus 19.875 +1 (UCL)
Rank Association Coeff. Teams Notes
20   Poland 19.750 3 +1 (UCL)
21   Sweden 19.725 +1 (UCL)
22   Israel 19.375 +1 (UCL)
23   Scotland 18.925 +1 (UCL)
24   Cyprus 18.550 +1 (UCL)
25   Norway 18.325 +1 (UCL)
26   Azerbaijan 17.750 +1 (UCL)
27   Bulgaria 15.875 +1 (UCL)
28   Serbia 15.375
29   Kazakhstan 15.250 +1 (UCL)
30   Slovenia 13.125 +1 (UCL)
31   Slovakia 11.750 +1 (UCL)
32   Liechtenstein 11.000 1
33   Hungary 9.500 3 +1 (UCL)
34   Moldova 9.500 +1 (UCL)
35   Iceland 8.375 +1 (UCL)
36   Finland 7.650 +1 (UCL)
37   Albania 6.625 +1 (UCL)
Rank Association Coeff. Teams Notes
38   Republic of Ireland 6.575 3 +1 (UCL)
39   Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.500 +1 (UCL)
40   Georgia 6.375 +1 (UCL)
41   Latvia 6.125 +1 (UCL)
42   Macedonia 5.625 +1 (UCL)
43   Estonia 5.250 +1 (UCL)
44   Montenegro 5.250 +1 (UCL)
45   Armenia 5.125 +1 (UCL)
46   Luxembourg 4.875 +1 (UCL)
47   Northern Ireland 4.500 +1 (UCL)
48   Lithuania 4.125 +1 (UCL)
49   Malta 4.000 +1 (UCL)
50   Wales 3.875 +1 (UCL)
51   Faroe Islands 3.500 +1 (UCL)
52   Gibraltar 2.500 2 +1 (UCL)
53   Andorra 1.165 +1 (UCL)
54   San Marino 0.333 +1 (UCL)
55   Kosovo 0.000 1 +1 (UCL)

Distribution

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In the default access list, originally 17 losers from the Champions League first qualifying round were transferred to the Europa League second qualifying round (Champions Path).[11][7] However, one fewer loser would be transferred since the Champions League title holders already qualified for the group stage via their domestic league. Therefore, only 19 teams entered the Champions Path second qualifying round (one of the losers from the Champions League first qualifying round would be drawn to receive a bye to the third qualifying round).[12]

In addition, originally three losers from the Champions League second qualifying round (League Path) were transferred to the Europa League third qualifying round (Main Path).[11] However, one fewer loser would be transferred since the Europa League title holders already qualified for the group stage via their domestic league. As a result, the following changes to the access list was made:[12]

  • The cup winners of association 18 (Denmark) entered the third qualifying round instead of the second qualifying round.
  • The cup winners of association 25 (Norway) entered the second qualifying round instead of the first qualifying round.
  • The cup winners of associations 50 (Wales) and 51 (Faroe Islands) entered the first qualifying round instead of the preliminary round.
Access list for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Teams entering in this round Teams advancing from previous round Teams transferred from Champions League
Preliminary round
(14 teams)
  • 4 domestic cup winners from associations 52–55
  • 6 domestic league runners-up from associations 49–54
  • 4 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 48–51
First qualifying round
(94 teams)
  • 26 domestic cup winners from associations 26–51
  • 30 domestic league runners-up from associations 18–48 (except Liechtenstein)
  • 31 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 16–47 (except Liechtenstein)
  • 7 winners from preliminary round
Second qualifying round Champions Path
(18 teams)
  • 15 losers from Champions League first qualifying round
  • 3 losers from Champions League preliminary round
Main Path
(74 teams)
  • 7 domestic cup winners from associations 19–25
  • 2 domestic league runners-up from associations 16–17
  • 3 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 13–15
  • 9 domestic league fourth-placed teams from associations 7–15
  • 2 domestic league fifth-placed teams from associations 5–6 (League Cup winners for France)
  • 4 domestic league sixth-placed teams from associations 1–4 (League Cup winners for England)
  • 47 winners from first qualifying round
Third qualifying round Champions Path
(20 teams)
  • 9 winners from second qualifying round (Champions Path)
  • 10 losers from Champions League second qualifying round (Champions Path)
  • 1 losers from Champions League first qualifying round (Champions Path)
Main Path
(52 teams)
  • 6 domestic cup winners from associations 13–18
  • 6 domestic league third-placed teams from associations 7–12
  • 1 domestic league fourth-placed team from association 6
  • 37 winners from second qualifying round (Main Path)
  • 2 losers from Champions League second qualifying round (League Path)
Play-off round Champions Path
(16 teams)
  • 10 winners from third qualifying round (Champions Path)
  • 6 losers from Champions League third qualifying round (Champions Path)
Main Path
(26 teams)
  • 26 winners from third qualifying round (Main Path)
Group stage
(48 teams)
  • 12 domestic cup winners from associations 1–12
  • 1 domestic league fourth-placed team from association 5
  • 4 domestic league fifth-placed teams from associations 1–4
  • 8 winners from play-off round (Champions Path)
  • 13 winners from play-off round (Main Path)
  • 4 losers from Champions League play-off round (Champions Path)
  • 2 losers from Champions League play-off round (League Path)
  • 4 losers from Champions League third qualifying round (League Path)
Knockout phase
(32 teams)
  • 12 group winners from group stage
  • 12 group runners-up from group stage
  • 8 third-placed teams from Champions League group stage

Redistribution rules

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A Europa League place was vacated when a team qualified for both the Champions League and the Europa League, or qualified for the Europa League by more than one method. When a place was vacated, it was redistributed within the national association by the following rules:[8]

  • When the domestic cup winners (considered as the "highest-placed" qualifier within the national association with the latest starting round) also qualified for the Champions League, their Europa League place was vacated. As a result, the highest-placed team in the league which had not yet qualified for European competitions qualified for the Europa League, with the Europa League qualifiers which finished above them in the league moving up one "place".
  • When the domestic cup winners also qualified for the Europa League through league position, their place through the league position was vacated. As a result, the highest-placed team in the league which had not yet qualified for European competitions qualified for the Europa League, with the Europa League qualifiers which finished above them in the league moving up one "place" if possible.
  • For associations where a Europa League place was reserved for either the League Cup or end-of-season European competition play-offs winners, they always qualified for the Europa League as the "lowest-placed" qualifier. If the League Cup winners had already qualified for European competitions through other methods, this reserved Europa League place was taken by the highest-placed team in the league which had not yet qualified for European competitions.

Teams

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The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round:[13]

  • CW: Cup winners
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, etc.: League position
  • LC: League Cup winners
  • RW: Regular season winners
  • PW: End-of-season Europa League play-offs winners
  • UCL: Transferred from the Champions League
    • GS: Third-placed teams from the group stage
    • PO: Losers from the play-off round
    • Q3: Losers from the third qualifying round
    • Q2: Losers from the second qualifying round
    • Q1: Losers from the first qualifying round
    • PR: Losers from the preliminary round (SF: semi-finals; F: final)
Qualified teams for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League (by entry round)
Round of 32
  Valencia (UCL GS)   Napoli (UCL GS)   Shakhtar Donetsk (UCL GS)   Galatasaray (UCL GS)
  Inter Milan (UCL GS)   Benfica (UCL GS)   Club Brugge (UCL GS)   Viktoria Plzeň (UCL GS)
Group stage
  Villarreal (5th)   Milan (6th)[Note ITA]   Akhisarspor (CW)   Dynamo Kyiv (UCL PO)
  Real Betis (6th)   Marseille (4th)   Jablonec (3rd)   PAOK (UCL PO)
  Eintracht Frankfurt (CW)   Rennes (5th)   Zürich (CW)   Spartak Moscow (UCL Q3)
  Bayer Leverkusen (5th)   Krasnodar (4th)[Note RUS]   Red Bull Salzburg (UCL PO)   Standard Liège (UCL Q3)
  Chelsea (CW)   Sporting CP (3rd)[Note POR]   Dinamo Zagreb (UCL PO)   Fenerbahçe (UCL Q3)
  Arsenal (6th)   Vorskla Poltava (3rd)   BATE Borisov (UCL PO)   Slavia Prague (UCL Q3)
  Lazio (5th)   Anderlecht (3rd)   MOL Vidi (UCL PO)
Play-off round
Champions Path Main Path
  Malmö FF (UCL Q3)   Astana (UCL Q3)
  Celtic (UCL Q3)   Spartak Trnava (UCL Q3)
  Qarabağ (UCL Q3)   Shkëndija (UCL Q3)
Third qualifying round
Champions Path Main Path
  CFR Cluj (UCL Q2)   Ludogorets Razgrad (UCL Q2)   Zenit Saint Petersburg (5th)[Note RUS]   Olympiacos (3rd)
  Midtjylland (UCL Q2)   Sheriff Tiraspol (UCL Q2)   Braga (4th)[Note POR]   Rapid Wien (3rd)
  Legia Warsaw (UCL Q2)   HJK (UCL Q2)   Zorya Luhansk (4th)   Rijeka (2nd)
  Hapoel Be'er Sheva (UCL Q2)   Kukësi (UCL Q2)   Gent (4th)   Universitatea Craiova (CW)
  Rosenborg (UCL Q2)   Sūduva (UCL Q2)   İstanbul Başakşehir (3rd)   Brøndby (CW)
  Cork City (UCL Q1)[Note UCL Q1]   Sigma Olomouc (4th)   Basel (UCL Q2)
  Luzern (3rd)   Sturm Graz (UCL Q2)
  Feyenoord (CW)
Second qualifying round
Champions Path Main Path
  APOEL (UCL Q1)   F91 Dudelange (UCL Q1)   Sevilla (7th)   Atromitos (4th)
  Olimpija Ljubljana (UCL Q1)   Crusaders (UCL Q1)   RB Leipzig (6th)   Asteras Tripolis (5th)
  Valur (UCL Q1)   Valletta (UCL Q1)   Burnley (7th)   LASK (4th)
  Zrinjski Mostar (UCL Q1)   The New Saints (UCL Q1)   Atalanta (7th)   Admira Wacker Mödling (5th)
  Torpedo Kutaisi (UCL Q1)   Víkingur Gøta (UCL Q1)   Bordeaux (6th)   Hajduk Split (3rd)
  Spartaks Jūrmala (UCL Q1)   Drita (UCL Q1)   Ufa (6th)[Note RUS]   FCSB (2nd)
  Flora Tallinn (UCL Q1)   Lincoln Red Imps (UCL PR F)   Rio Ave (5th)[Note POR]   Dynamo Brest (CW)
  Sutjeska Nikšić (UCL Q1)   FC Santa Coloma (UCL PR SF)   Mariupol (5th)   Jagiellonia Białystok (2nd)
  Alashkert (UCL Q1)   La Fiorita (UCL PR SF)   Genk (PW)   Djurgårdens IF (CW)
  Beşiktaş (4th)   Hapoel Haifa (CW)
  Sparta Prague (5th)   Aberdeen (2nd)
  St. Gallen (5th)   AEK Larnaca (CW)
  AZ (3rd)   Lillestrøm (CW)
  Vitesse (PW)
First qualifying round
  Osijek (4th)   CSKA Sofia (2nd)   Stjarnan (2nd)   Shkupi (4th)
  Viitorul Constanța (4th)   Levski Sofia (PW)   FH (3rd)   FCI Levadia (CW)
  Nordsjælland (3rd)   Partizan (CW)   KuPS (2nd)   Nõmme Kalju (3rd)
  Copenhagen (PW)   Radnički Niš (3rd)   Ilves (3rd)   Narva Trans (5th)[Note EST]
  Dinamo Minsk (2nd)   Spartak Subotica (4th)   Lahti (4th)   Titograd (CW)
  Shakhtyor Soligorsk (3rd)   Kairat (CW)   Luftëtari (3rd)   Budućnost Podgorica (2nd)
  Lech Poznań (3rd)   Irtysh Pavlodar (4th)   Laçi (4th)   Rudar Pljevlja (5th)[Note MNE]
  Górnik Zabrze (4th)   Tobol (5th)[Note KAZ]   Partizani (5th)[Note ALB]   Gandzasar Kapan (CW)
  AIK (2nd)   Maribor (2nd)   Dundalk (2nd)   Banants (2nd)
  BK Häcken (4th)   Domžale (3rd)   Shamrock Rovers (3rd)   Pyunik (5th)[Note ARM]
  Maccabi Tel Aviv (2nd)   Rudar Velenje (4th)   Derry City (4th)[Note IRL]   Racing FC (CW)
  Beitar Jerusalem (3rd)   Slovan Bratislava (CW)   Željezničar (CW)   Progrès Niederkorn (2nd)
  Rangers (3rd)   DAC Dunajská Streda (3rd)   Sarajevo (3rd)   Fola Esch (3rd)
  Hibernian (4th)   Trenčín (PW)   Široki Brijeg (4th)   Coleraine (CW)
  Apollon Limassol (2nd)   Vaduz (CW)   Chikhura Sachkhere (CW)   Glenavon (3rd)
  Anorthosis Famagusta (3rd)   Újpest (CW)   Dinamo Tbilisi (2nd)   Cliftonville (PW)
  Molde (2nd)   Ferencváros (2nd)   Samtredia (3rd)   Stumbras (CW)
  Sarpsborg 08 (3rd)   Honvéd (4th)   Liepāja (CW)   Žalgiris (2nd)
  Keşla (CW)   Milsami Orhei (CW)   Riga (3rd)   Balzan (2nd)
  Gabala (2nd)   Petrocub Hîncești (3rd)   Ventspils (4th)   Connah's Quay Nomads (CW)
  Neftçi Baku (3rd)   Zaria Bălți (5th)[Note MDA]   Vardar (2nd)   NSÍ Runavík (CW)
  Slavia Sofia (CW)   ÍBV (CW)   Rabotnički (3rd)
Preliminary round
  Trakai (3rd)   Cefn Druids (PW)   St Joseph's (3rd)   Tre Fiori (3rd)
  Gżira United (3rd)   KÍ Klaksvík (2nd)   Engordany (2nd)   Prishtina (CW)
  Birkirkara (4th)   B36 Tórshavn (3rd)   Sant Julià (3rd)
  Bala Town (4th)[Note WAL]   Europa (CW)   Folgore (2nd)

Notably one team that was not playing a national top division took part in the competition; Vaduz (representing Liechtenstein) played in 2017–18 Swiss Challenge League, which is Switzerland's second tier.

Notes
  1. ^
    Albania (ALB): In March 2018, Skënderbeu was handed a 10-year ban from UEFA club competitions over match fixing.[14][15] Since they finished as champions of the 2017–18 Albanian Superliga, the runners-up of the league, Kukësi, entered the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League instead of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League. As a result, their Europa League first qualifying round berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Partizani.
  2. ^
    Armenia (ARM): Shirak would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017–18 Armenian Premier League, but were penalized by the Football Federation of Armenia for match fixing,[16] and subsequently informed UEFA their withdrawal from competing in the Europa League.[17] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Pyunik.[citation needed]
  3. ^
    Estonia (EST): FCI Tallinn would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017 Meistriliiga, but were disbanded and merged with Levadia Tallinn after the season.[18] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Narva Trans.
  4. ^
    Italy (ITA): Milan qualified for the Europa League group stage as the sixth-placed team of the 2017–18 Serie A, but were originally banned by UEFA from European competition due to violations of Financial Fair Play regulations.[19] They appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the ban was overturned on 20 July 2018.[20][21]
  5. ^
    Kazakhstan (KAZ): Ordabasy would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the third-placed team of the 2017 Kazakhstan Premier League, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[22] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Tobol.
  6. ^
    Moldova (MDA): Dacia Chișinău would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017 Moldovan National Division, but were disbanded after the season.[23] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Zaria Bălți.
  7. ^
    Montenegro (MNE): Grbalj would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the fourth-placed team of the 2017–18 Montenegrin First League, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[24] As a result, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Rudar Pljevlja.
  8. ^
    Portugal (POR): Desportivo das Aves would have qualified for the Europa League group stage as the winners of the 2017–18 Taça de Portugal, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[25] As a result, the third-placed team of the 2017–18 Primeira Liga, Sporting CP, entered the group stage instead of the third qualifying round, the fourth-placed team of the league, Braga, entered the third qualifying round instead of the second qualifying round, and the second qualifying round berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, Rio Ave.
  9. ^
    Republic of Ireland (IRL): Derry City are a club based in Northern Ireland, but participate in the Europa League through one of the berths for the Republic of Ireland (any coefficient points they earn count toward Republic of Ireland and not Northern Ireland).
  10. ^
    Russia (RUS): Tosno would have qualified for the Europa League group stage as the winners of the 2017–18 Russian Cup, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[26] As a result, the fourth-placed team of the 2017–18 Russian Premier League, Krasnodar, entered the group stage instead of the third qualifying round, the fifth-placed team of the league, Zenit Saint Petersburg, entered the third qualifying round instead of the second qualifying round, and the second qualifying round berth was given to the sixth-placed team of the league, Ufa.
  11. ^
    Wales (WAL): Bangor City would have qualified for the Europa League preliminary round as the runners-up of the 2017–18 Welsh Premier League, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.[27] As a result, and because the third-placed team Connah's Quay Nomads were Welsh Cup winners, the berth was given to the fourth-placed team of the league, Bala Town.
  12. ^
    Champions League (UCL Q1): Cork City were drawn from the first qualifying round losers to receive a bye to the third qualifying round, as one fewer loser from the Champions League first qualifying round were transferred to the Europa League second qualifying round (Champions Path), due to a Champions League group stage berth vacated by the Champions League title holders.[28]

Round and draw dates

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The schedule of the competition was as follows (all draws were held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, unless stated otherwise).[29]

Schedule for 2018–19 UEFA Europa League
Phase Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Qualifying Preliminary round 12 June 2018 28 June 2018 5 July 2018
First qualifying round 19 June 2018 (Champions Path)
20 June 2018 (Main Path) 		12 July 2018 19 July 2018
Second qualifying round 26 July 2018 2 August 2018
Third qualifying round 23 July 2018 9 August 2018 16 August 2018
Play-off Play-off round 6 August 2018 23 August 2018 30 August 2018
Group stage Matchday 1 31 August 2018
(Monaco) 		20 September 2018
Matchday 2 4 October 2018
Matchday 3 25 October 2018
Matchday 4 8 November 2018
Matchday 5 29 November 2018
Matchday 6 13 December 2018
Knockout phase Round of 32 17 December 2018 14 February 2019 21 February 2019
Round of 16 22 February 2019 7 March 2019 14 March 2019
Quarter-finals 15 March 2019 11 April 2019 18 April 2019
Semi-finals 2 May 2019 9 May 2019
Final 29 May 2019 at Olympic Stadium, Baku

Matches in the qualifying (including preliminary and play-off) and knockout rounds could also be played on Tuesdays or Wednesdays instead of the regular Thursdays due to scheduling conflicts.

From this season, the kick-off times starting from the group stage were slightly changed to 18:55 CET and 21:00 CET. Kick-off times starting from the quarter-finals were 21:00 CEST.[11]

Qualifying rounds

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Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds

In the qualifying and play-off rounds, teams were divided into seeded and unseeded teams based on their 2018 UEFA club coefficients (for Main Path),[30] or based on which round they qualified from (for Champions Path), and then drawn into two-legged home-and-away ties.

Preliminary round

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In the preliminary round, teams were divided into seeded and unseeded teams based on their 2018 UEFA club coefficients,[30] and then drawn into two-legged home-and-away ties. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other. The draw for the preliminary round was held on 12 June 2018.[31] The first legs were played on 26 and 28 June, and the second legs were played on 5 July 2018.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Europa   1–6   Prishtina 1–1 0–5
Sant Julià   1–4   Gżira United 0–2 1–2
Engordany   3–2   Folgore 2–1 1–1
B36 Tórshavn   2–2 (4–2 p)   St Joseph's 1–1 1–1 (a.e.t.)
Birkirkara   2–3   KÍ Klaksvík 1–1 1–2
Tre Fiori   3–1   Bala Town 3–0 0–1
Cefn Druids   1–2   Trakai 1–1 0–1

First qualifying round

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The draw for the first qualifying round was held on 20 June 2018.[32] The first legs were played on 10, 11 and 12 July, and the second legs were played on 17, 18 and 19 July 2018.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Stjarnan   3–1   Nõmme Kalju 3–0 0–1
Ilves   1–3   Slavia Sofia 0–1 1–2
KÍ Klaksvík   2–3   Žalgiris 1–2 1–1
Fola Esch   0–0 (5–4 p)   Prishtina 0–0 0–0 (a.e.t.)
Glenavon   3–6   Molde 2–1 1–5
DAC Dunajská Streda   3–2   Dinamo Tbilisi 1–1 2–1
Stumbras   1–2   Apollon Limassol 1–0 0–2
Široki Brijeg   3–3 (a)   Domžale 2–2 1–1
Rangers   2–0   Shkupi 2–0 0–0
Gabala   1–2[A]   Progrès Niederkorn 0–2 1–0
Racing FC   0–2   Viitorul Constanța 0–2 0–0
Samtredia   0–3   Tobol 0–1 0–2
Partizani   0–3   Maribor 0–1 0–2
Neftçi Baku   3–5   Újpest 3–1 0–4
Budućnost Podgorica   1–3   Trenčín 0–2 1–1
Derry City   2–3   Dinamo Minsk 0–2 2–1
B36 Tórshavn   2–1   Titograd Podgorica 0–0 2–1
Górnik Zabrze   2–1[A]   Zaria Bălți 1–0 1–1
Spartak Subotica   3–1   Coleraine 1–1 2–0
Pyunik   3–0   Vardar 1–0 2–0
Shamrock Rovers   1–2   AIK 0–1 1–1 (a.e.t.)
Connah's Quay Nomads   1–5   Shakhtyor Soligorsk 1–3 0–2
Lahti   0–3   FH 0–3 0–0
Ventspils   8–3   Luftëtari 5–0 3–3
Cliftonville   1–3   Nordsjælland 0–1 1–2
Banants   1–5   Sarajevo 1–2 0–3
Engordany   1–10   Kairat 0–3 1–7
Petrocub Hîncești   2–3   Osijek 1–1 1–2
Anorthosis Famagusta   2–2 (a)   Laçi 2–1 0–1
Ferencváros   1–2   Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–1 0–1
Balzan   5–3   Keşla 4–1 1–2
Rabotnički   2–5[A]   Honvéd 2–1 0–4
Rudar Pljevlja   0–6   Partizan 0–3 0–3
CSKA Sofia   1–1 (5–3 p)   Riga 1–0 0–1 (a.e.t.)
Milsami Orhei   2–9   Slovan Bratislava 2–4 0–5
Radnički Niš   5–0   Gżira United 4–0 1–0
Lech Poznań   3–2   Gandzasar Kapan 2–0 1–2
Chikhura Sachkhere   2–1   Beitar Jerusalem 0–0 2–1
Vaduz   3–3 (a)   Levski Sofia 1–0 2–3
Narva Trans   1–5[A]   Željezničar 0–2 1–3
Trakai   1–0   Irtysh Pavlodar 0–0 1–0
Hibernian   12–5   NSÍ Runavík 6–1 6–4
Rudar Velenje   10–0   Tre Fiori 7–0 3–0
FCI Levadia   1–3   Dundalk 0–1 1–2
ÍBV   0–6   Sarpsborg 08 0–4 0–2
KuPS   1–2[A]   Copenhagen 0–1 1–1
Liepāja   2–4   BK Häcken 0–3 2–1

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Order of legs reversed after original draw.

Second qualifying round

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The second qualifying round was split into two separate sections: Champions Path (for league champions) and Main Path (for cup winners and league non-champions). The draw for the second qualifying round (Champions Path) was held on 19 June,[28] and the draw for the second qualifying round (Main Path) was held on 20 June 2018.[32] The first legs were played on 26 July, and the second legs were played on 31 July, 1 and 2 August 2018.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Champions Path
Cork City   Bye N/A N/A N/A
The New Saints   3–2   Lincoln Red Imps 2–1 1–1
Torpedo Kutaisi   7–0   Víkingur Gøta 3–0 4–0
Zrinjski Mostar   3–2   Valletta 1–1 2–1
FC Santa Coloma   1–3   Valur 1–0 0–3
Sutjeska Nikšić   0–1   Alashkert 0–1 0–0
F91 Dudelange   3–2   Drita 2–1 1–1
Spartaks Jūrmala   9–0   La Fiorita 6–0 3–0
APOEL   5–2   Flora Tallinn 5–0 0–2
Olimpija Ljubljana   6–2   Crusaders 5–1 1–1
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Main Path
Molde   5–0   Laçi 3–0 2–0
Atalanta   10–2[A]   Sarajevo 2–2 8–0
Žalgiris   2–1   Vaduz 1–0 1–1
Kairat   3–2   AZ 2–0 1–2
Aberdeen   2–4   Burnley 1–1 1–3 (a.e.t.)
Partizan   2–1   Trakai 1–0 1–1
Balzan   3–4   Slovan Bratislava 2–1 1–3
Nordsjælland   2–0   AIK 1–0 1–0
Rudar Velenje   0–6   FCSB 0–2 0–4
Hapoel Haifa   2–1   FH 1–1 1–0
Dundalk   0–4   AEK Larnaca 0–0 0–4
Górnik Zabrze   1–5   Trenčín 0–1 1–4
Maccabi Tel Aviv   4–2   Radnički Niš 2–0 2–2
CSKA Sofia   6–1   Admira Wacker Mödling 3–0 3–1
Spartak Subotica   3–2   Sparta Prague 2–0 1–2
RB Leipzig   5–1   BK Häcken 4–0 1–1
Stjarnan   0–7   Copenhagen 0–2 0–5
Ufa   1–1 (a)   Domžale 0–0 1–1
Tobol   2–2 (a)   Pyunik 2–1 0–1
Jagiellonia Białystok   5–4   Rio Ave 1–0 4–4
LASK   6–1   Lillestrøm 4–0 2–1
Honvéd   1–2   Progrès Niederkorn 1–0 0–2
Osijek   1–2   Rangers 0–1 1–1
B36 Tórshavn   0–8   Beşiktaş 0–2 0–6
DAC Dunajská Streda   2–7   Dinamo Minsk 1–3 1–4
Ventspils   1–3   Bordeaux 0–1 1–2
Željezničar   2–5   Apollon Limassol 1–2 1–3
Viitorul Constanța   3–5   Vitesse 2–2 1–3
St. Gallen   2–2 (a)   Sarpsborg 08 2–1 0–1
Dynamo Brest   5–4   Atromitos 4–3 1–1
Sevilla   7–1   Újpest 4–0 3–1
Shakhtyor Soligorsk   2–4   Lech Poznań 1–1 1–3 (a.e.t.)
Hibernian   4–3   Asteras Tripolis 3–2 1–1
Chikhura Sachkhere   0–2   Maribor 0–0 0–2
Genk   9–1   Fola Esch 5–0 4–1
Djurgårdens IF   2–3   Mariupol 1–1 1–2 (a.e.t.)
Hajduk Split   4–2   Slavia Sofia 1–0 3–2

Notes

  1. ^ Order of legs reversed after original draw.

Third qualifying round

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The third qualifying round was split into two separate sections: Champions Path (for league champions) and Main Path (for cup winners and league non-champions). The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 23 July 2018.[33] The first legs were played on 7 and 9 August, and the second legs were played on 16 August 2018.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Champions Path
Ludogorets Razgrad   2–1   Zrinjski Mostar 1–0 1–1
Legia Warsaw   3–4   F91 Dudelange 1–2 2–2
Alashkert   0–7   CFR Cluj 0–2 0–5
Olimpija Ljubljana   7–1   HJK 3–0 4–1
Sheriff Tiraspol   2–2 (a)   Valur 1–0 1–2
Cork City   0–5   Rosenborg 0–2 0–3
Spartaks Jūrmala   0–1   Sūduva Marijampolė 0–1 0–0
The New Saints   1–5   Midtjylland 0–2 1–3
Hapoel Be'er Sheva   3–5   APOEL 2–2 1–3
Torpedo Kutaisi   5–4   Kukësi 5–2 0–2
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Main Path
Pyunik   1–2   Maccabi Tel Aviv 0–0 1–2
Dinamo Minsk   5–8   Zenit Saint Petersburg 4–0 1–8 (a.e.t.)
Sturm Graz   0–7   AEK Larnaca 0–2 0–5
Sarpsborg 08   2–1   Rijeka 1–1 1–0
İstanbul Başakşehir   0–1   Burnley 0–0 0–1 (a.e.t.)
Zorya Luhansk   3–3 (a)   Braga 1–1 2–2
Hapoel Haifa   1–6   Atalanta 1–4 0–2
Genk   4–1   Lech Poznań 2–0 2–1
Vitesse   0–2   Basel 0–1 0–1
Nordsjælland   3–5   Partizan 1–2 2–3
Hibernian   0–3   Molde 0–0 0–3
Hajduk Split   1–2   FCSB 0–0 1–2
Sevilla   6–0   Žalgiris 1–0 5–0
Sigma Olomouc   4–1   Kairat 2–0 2–1
Slovan Bratislava   2–5   Rapid Wien 2–1 0–4
Mariupol   2–5   Bordeaux 1–3 1–2
CSKA Sofia   2–4   Copenhagen 1–2 1–2
Olympiacos   7–1   Luzern 4–0 3–1
Rangers   3–1   Maribor 3–1 0–0
Trenčín   5–1   Feyenoord 4–0 1–1
Jagiellonia Białystok   1–4   Gent 0–1 1–3
Spartak Subotica   1–4   Brøndby 0–2 1–2
Ufa   4–3   Progrès Niederkorn 2–1 2–2
Beşiktaş   2–2 (a)   LASK 1–0 1–2
Apollon Limassol   4–1   Dynamo Brest 4–0 0–1
RB Leipzig   4–2   Universitatea Craiova 3–1 1–1

Play-off round

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Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League play-off round

The play-off round was split into two separate sections: Champions Path (for league champions) and Main Path (for cup winners and league non-champions). The draw for the play-off round was held on 6 August 2018.[34] The first legs were played on 23 August, and the second legs were played on 30 August 2018.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Champions Path
Olimpija Ljubljana   1–3   Spartak Trnava 0–2 1–1
APOEL   1–1 (1–2 p)   Astana 1–0 0–1 (a.e.t.)
Rosenborg   5–1   Shkëndija 3–1 2–0
F91 Dudelange   5–2   CFR Cluj 2–0 3–2
Sūduva Marijampolė   1–4   Celtic 1–1 0–3
Sheriff Tiraspol   1–3   Qarabağ 1–0 0–3
Malmö FF   4–2   Midtjylland 2–2 2–0
Torpedo Kutaisi   0–5   Ludogorets Razgrad 0–1 0–4
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Main Path
Sigma Olomouc   0–4   Sevilla 0–1 0–3
Sarpsborg 08   4–3   Maccabi Tel Aviv 3–1 1–2
Gent   0–2   Bordeaux 0–0 0–2
Partizan   1–4   Beşiktaş 1–1 0–3
Rapid Wien   4–3   FCSB 3–1 1–2
Basel   3–3 (a)[A]   Apollon Limassol 3–2 0–1
Rangers   2–1   Ufa 1–0 1–1
Atalanta   0–0 (3–4 p)   Copenhagen 0–0 0–0 (a.e.t.)
Zenit Saint Petersburg   4–3   Molde 3–1 1–2
Trenčín   1–4   AEK Larnaca 1–1 0–3
Genk   9–4   Brøndby 5–2 4–2
Olympiacos   4–2   Burnley 3–1 1–1
Zorya Luhansk   2–3   RB Leipzig 0–0 2–3

Notes

  1. ^ Order of legs reversed after original draw.

Group stage

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Main article: 2018–19 UEFA Europa League group stage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
London
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Astana
(not on map)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glasgow
 
 
Seville
 
 
 
 
 
Istanbul
 
 
 



class=notpageimage|
Location of teams of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League group stage.
  Brown: Group A;   Green: Group B;   Deep Pink: Group C;   Yellow: Group D;
  Red: Group E;   Cyan: Group F;   Blue: Group G;   Purple: Group H;
  Pink: Group I;   Turquoise: Group J;   Spring Green: Group K;   Orange: Group L.

The draw for the group stage was held on 31 August 2018 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.[35] The 48 teams were drawn into twelve groups of four, with the restriction that teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other. For the draw, the teams are seeded into four pots based on their 2018 UEFA club coefficients.[30]

In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The group winners and runners-up advance to the round of 32 where they are joined by the eight third-placed teams of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League group stage. The matchdays are 20 September, 4 October, 25 October, 8 November, 29 November, and 13 December 2018.

A total of 27 national associations were represented in the group stage. Akhisarspor, Chelsea, F91 Dudelange, Jablonec, Rangers, RB Leipzig, Sarpsborg 08, Spartak Moscow and Spartak Trnava made their debut appearances in the UEFA Europa League group stage (although Chelsea, Rangers, RB Leipzig and Spartak Moscow had already competed in the UEFA Europa League knockout phase after a third place in the UEFA Champions League group stage, while Rangers and Spartak Moscow had appeared in the UEFA Cup group stage). Akhisarspor and Sarpsborg 08 made their debuts in any European football. F91 Dudelange were the first team from Luxembourg to play in either the Champions League or Europa League group stage.[36]

Group A

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LEV ZUR AKL LUD
1   Bayer Leverkusen 6 4 1 1 16 9 +7 13 Advance to knockout phase — 1–0 4–2 1–1
2   Zürich 6 3 1 2 7 6 +1 10 3–2 — 1–2 1–0
3   AEK Larnaca 6 1 2 3 6 12 −6 5 1–5 0–1 — 1–1
4   Ludogorets Razgrad 6 0 4 2 5 7 −2 4 2–3 1–1 0–0 —
Source: UEFA

Group B

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAL CEL RBL ROS
1   Red Bull Salzburg 6 6 0 0 17 6 +11 18 Advance to knockout phase — 3–1 1–0 3–0
2   Celtic 6 3 0 3 6 8 −2 9 1–2 — 2–1 1–0
3   RB Leipzig 6 2 1 3 9 8 +1 7 2–3 2–0 — 1–1
4   Rosenborg 6 0 1 5 4 14 −10 1 2–5 0–1 1–3 —
Source: UEFA

Group C

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ZEN SLP BOR KOB
1   Zenit Saint Petersburg 6 3 2 1 6 5 +1 11 Advance to knockout phase — 1–0 2–1 1–0
2   Slavia Prague 6 3 1 2 4 3 +1 10 2–0 — 1–0 0–0
3   Bordeaux 6 2 1 3 6 6 0 7 1–1 2–0 — 1–2
4   Copenhagen 6 1 2 3 3 5 −2 5 1–1 0–1 0–1 —
Source: UEFA

Group D

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DZG FEN SPT AND
1   Dinamo Zagreb 6 4 2 0 11 3 +8 14 Advance to knockout phase — 4–1 3–1 0–0
2   Fenerbahçe 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8 0–0 — 2–0 2–0
3   Spartak Trnava 6 2 1 3 4 7 −3 7 1–2 1–0 — 1–0
4   Anderlecht 6 0 3 3 2 7 −5 3 0–2 2–2 0–0 —
Source: UEFA

Group E

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ARS SPO VOR QRB
1   Arsenal 6 5 1 0 12 2 +10 16 Advance to knockout phase — 0–0 4–2 1–0
2   Sporting CP 6 4 1 1 13 3 +10 13 0–1 — 3–0 2–0
3   Vorskla Poltava 6 1 0 5 4 13 −9 3[a] 0–3 1–2 — 0–1
4   Qarabağ 6 1 0 5 2 13 −11 3[a] 0–3 1–6 0–1 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Goal difference in all group matches: Vorskla Poltava –9, Qarabağ –11.

Group F

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BET OLY MIL DUD
1   Real Betis 6 3 3 0 7 2 +5 12 Advance to knockout phase — 1–0 1–1 3–0
2   Olympiacos 6 3 1 2 11 6 +5 10[a] 0–0 — 3–1 5–1
3   Milan 6 3 1 2 12 9 +3 10[a] 1–2 3–1 — 5–2
4   F91 Dudelange 6 0 1 5 3 16 −13 1 0–0 0–2 0–1 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Goal difference in all group matches: Olympiacos +5, Milan +3.

Group G

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VIL RW RAN SPM
1   Villarreal 6 2 4 0 12 5 +7 10[a] Advance to knockout phase — 5–0 2–2 2–0
2   Rapid Wien 6 3 1 2 6 9 −3 10[a] 0–0 — 1–0 2–0
3   Rangers 6 1 3 2 8 8 0 6 0–0 3–1 — 0–0
4   Spartak Moscow 6 1 2 3 8 12 −4 5 3–3 1–2 4–3 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Villarreal 4, Rapid Wien 1.

Group H

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification FRA LAZ APL MAR
1   Eintracht Frankfurt 6 6 0 0 17 5 +12 18 Advance to knockout phase — 4–1 2–0 4–0
2   Lazio 6 3 0 3 9 11 −2 9 1–2 — 2–1 2–1
3   Apollon Limassol 6 2 1 3 10 10 0 7 2–3 2–0 — 2–2
4   Marseille 6 0 1 5 6 16 −10 1 1–2 1–3 1–3 —
Source: UEFA

Group I

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GNK MAL BES SRP
1   Genk 6 3 2 1 14 8 +6 11 Advance to knockout phase — 2–0 1–1 4–0
2   Malmö FF 6 2 3 1 7 6 +1 9 2–2 — 2–0 1–1
3   Beşiktaş 6 2 1 3 9 11 −2 7 2–4 0–1 — 3–1
4   Sarpsborg 08 6 1 2 3 8 13 −5 5 3–1 1–1 2–3 —
Source: UEFA

Group J

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEV KRA STL AKH
1   Sevilla 6 4 0 2 18 6 +12 12[a] Advance to knockout phase — 3–0 5–1 6–0
2   Krasnodar 6 4 0 2 8 8 0 12[a] 2–1 — 2–1 2–1
3   Standard Liège 6 3 1 2 7 9 −2 10 1–0 2–1 — 2–1
4   Akhisarspor 6 0 1 5 4 14 −10 1 2–3 0–1 0–0 —
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head goal difference: Sevilla +2, Krasnodar –2.

Group K

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DKV REN AST JAB
1   Dynamo Kyiv 6 3 2 1 10 7 +3 11 Advance to knockout phase — 3–1 2–2 0–1
2   Rennes 6 3 0 3 7 8 −1 9 1–2 — 2–0 2–1
3