Season 2025/2026
Source: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/
2025/26 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals
The 2025/26 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals are currently underway. Following a lone fixture on Wednesday, the remaining first-leg matches are scheduled for tonight, April 9.
Quarter-Final First Leg Schedule
| Match | Date | Time (CEST) | Venue |
| S.C. Braga 1–1 Real Betis | April 8 | 1:1 | Braga Municipal Stadium |
| Bologna vs. Aston Villa | April 9 | 1:3 | Renato Dall’Ara Stadium |
| FC Porto vs. Nottingham Forest | April 9 | 1:1 | Estádio do Dragão |
| SC Freiburg vs. RC Celta de Vigo | April 9 | 3:0 | Europa-Park-Stadion |
Key Storylines
- Emery’s Territory: Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, the most successful manager in the competition’s history with four titles, looks to guide Villa past a Bologna side that has gone 11 European games unbeaten.
- The Second Legs: All return fixtures are scheduled for next Thursday, April 16.
- Road to Istanbul: The winners of these ties will progress to the semi-finals starting April 30, with the final taking place at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul on May 20.
The UEFA Europa League Round of 16 second-leg matcHistoryhes were indeed concluded on Thursday, March 19, 2026 (with one match played on March 18).
Here are the results and the teams that have advanced to the Quarter-finals:
UEFA Europa League: Round of 16 Results
| Matchup | Second Leg | Aggregate | Winner |
| Braga vs. Ferencváros | 4–0 | 4–2 | Braga |
| Freiburg vs. Genk | 5–1 | 5–2 | Freiburg |
| Lyon vs. Celta Vigo | 0–2 | 1–3 | Celta Vigo |
| Midtjylland vs. Nottingham Forest | 1–2 (0–3 Pens) | 2–2 | Nottingham Forest |
| Real Betis vs. Panathinaikos | 2–0 | 2–1 | Real Betis |
| Porto vs. VfB Stuttgart | 2–0 | 4–1 | Porto |
| AS Roma vs. Bologna | 1–2 | 2–3 | Bologna |
| Aston Villa vs. Lille | 2–0 | 3–0 | Aston Villa |
Key Takeaways
- Penalty Heroics: Nottingham Forest secured their first European quarter-final in 30 years. After a 2–2 aggregate draw, they dominated the shootout 3–0 against Midtjylland.
- All-Italian Clash: Bologna caused a major upset by knocking out AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, winning 2–1 on the night to clinch the tie.
- Clinical Villa: Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side continued their strong form, professionally dispatching Lille with goals from John McGinn and Leon Bailey.
- Freiburg Statement: The biggest win of the night came from Freiburg, who overturned a first-leg deficit with a commanding 5–1 victory over Genk.
Quarter-final Matchups
The Quarter-final first-leg matches are scheduled for April 9, 2026:
- Braga vs. Real Betis
- Freiburg vs. Celta Vigo
- Porto vs. Nottingham Forest
- Bologna vs. Aston Villa
Thursday, March 12, 2026, features the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. The matches are split into two primary kickoff slots.
The opening night for the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 was a night defined by tactical battles and narrow margins, with several “favorites” securing crucial away results.
Here are the results from the first-leg matches:
🏆 Europa League: Round of 16 Results (First Leg)
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Key Highlights |
| Lille (FRA) | 0–1 | Aston Villa (ENG) | Ollie Watkins scored a crucial second-half header to give Villa the edge. |
| Stuttgart (GER) | 1–2 | Porto (POR) | Terem Moffi and Rodrigo Mora scored early to silence the MHP Arena. |
| Nottingham Forest (ENG) | 0–1 | Midtjylland (DEN) | Guesung Cho stunned the City Ground with an 80th-minute winner. |
| Celta Vigo (ESP) | 1–1 | Lyon (FRA) | 10-man Celta led early, but Endrick salvaged a draw for Lyon late on. |
| Bologna (ITA) | 1–1 | Roma (ITA) | An all-Italian stalemate; Bernardeschi’s opener was cancelled out by Pellegrini. |
| Ferencváros (HUN) | 2–0 | Braga (POR) | The Hungarian champions take a solid two-goal cushion to Portugal. |
| Genk (BEL) | 1–0 | Freiburg (GER) | A tight defensive display from Genk keeps the Bundesliga side at bay. |
| Panathinaikos (GRE) | 1–0 | Real Betis (ESP) | Vicente Taborda converted a penalty in the 88th minute in a fiery clash. |
🔍 Key Takeaways
- English Mixed Bag: While Aston Villa secured a professional away win, Nottingham Forest faces a massive uphill battle in Denmark after their home defeat.
- The “Endrick” Factor: The young Brazilian continues to show why he’s one of the world’s most watched talents, rescuing a result for Lyon when they looked headed for defeat.
- Italian Gridlock: Bologna and Roma played a cagey 1-1 draw at the Renato Dall’Ara, meaning their tie is perfectly poised for the return leg in Rome.
📅 Return Leg
The second legs will take place next Thursday, March 19, 2026, where the final eight for the Quarter-finals will be decided.
Match Notes:
- Early Kickoffs: The 18:45 CET matches are now final. Notable results include Aston Villa securing a vital away win in France and Porto edging out Stuttgart.
- Late Kickoffs: The 21:00 CET matches are currently live.
- Second Leg: The return fixtures for these ties are scheduled for next Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Remaining UEFA Europa League Schedule (2026)
| Phase | Round | Draw Date | First Leg | Second Leg |
| League Phase | Matchday 8 | — | January 29 | — |
| Knockout | Knockout Round Playoffs | January 30 | February 19 | February 26 |
| Knockout | Round of 16 | February 27 | March 12 | March 19 |
| Knockout | Quarter-finals | February 27 | April 9 | April 16 |
| Knockout | Semi-finals | February 27 | April 30 | May 7 |
| Final | Final (Istanbul) | — | May 20 | — |
The UEFA Europa League draws for the Round of 16
The UEFA Europa League draws for the Round of 16 through to the Final were held today, Friday, February 27, 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland.
The draw results for the Round of 16 are listed below, followed by the schedule for the rest of the competition.
Round of 16 Matchups
| Home (First Leg) | Away (First Leg) | First Leg Date | Second Leg Date |
| Ferencváros (HUN) | Braga (POR) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Panathinaikos (GRE) | Real Betis (ESP) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Genk (BEL) | Freiburg (GER) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Celta Vigo (ESP) | Lyon (FRA) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Stuttgart (GER) | Porto (POR) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Nottingham Forest (ENG) | Midtjylland (DEN) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Bologna (ITA) | Roma (ITA) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Lille (FRA) | Aston Villa (ENG) | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
Knockout Stage Calendar
UEFA also confirmed the path for the remaining rounds through to the final in Istanbul.
| Round | First Leg | Second Leg |
| Round of 16 | March 12, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | April 9, 2026 | April 16, 2026 |
| Semi-finals | April 30, 2026 | May 7, 2026 |
| Final (Istanbul) | May 20, 2026 | — |
Notable Quarter-final Paths
- The winner of Lille/Aston Villa will face the winner of Bologna/Roma.
- The winner of Stuttgart/Porto will face the winner of Nottingham Forest/Midtjylland.
Knockout Play-offs February 19
League Phase: Key Fixtures (Jan 29)
The final matchday determines which teams go straight to the Round of 16 and who must fight through the playoffs.
To ensure competitive integrity, all 18 matches on the final day of the League Phase (January 29, 2026) are scheduled to kick off simultaneously.
Matchday 8 Schedule: Thursday, Jan 29
| Kick-off Time | Matchup |
| 21:00 CET | FC Porto vs. Rangers FC |
| 21:00 CET | Aston Villa vs. Red Bull Salzburg |
| 21:00 CET | Celtic vs. FC Utrecht |
| 21:00 CET | Panathinaikos vs. AS Roma |
| 21:00 CET | VfB Stuttgart vs. Young Boys |
| 21:00 CET | Lyon vs. PAOK |
| 21:00 CET | OSC Lille vs. SC Freiburg |
| 21:00 CET | Real Betis vs. Feyenoord |
| 21:00 CET | Nottingham Forest vs. Ferencváros |
| 21:00 CET | Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs. Bologna |
| 21:00 CET | Ludogorets vs. Nice |
| 21:00 CET | FCSB vs. Fenerbahçe |
| 21:00 CET | Crvena Zvezda vs. Celta Vigo |
| 21:00 CET | Basel vs. Viktoria Plzeň |
| 21:00 CET | Midtjylland vs. GNK Dinamo |
| 21:00 CET | Go Ahead Eagles vs. Braga |
| 21:00 CET | Genk vs. Malmö |
| 21:00 CET | Sturm Graz vs. Brann |
Local Time Conversions
Depending on where you are watching, the simultaneous kick-off is:
- UK/Portugal: 20:00 (GMT/WET)
- Central Europe: 21:00 (CET)
- Eastern Europe/Turkey: 22:00 (EET/TRT)
- US East Coast: 15:00 (EST)
What’s at Stake?
This “simulcast” format is used because the final standings will determine:
- Top 8 Teams: Earn an automatic pass to the Round of 16.
- 9th – 24th Place: Enter the two-legged Knockout Round Playoffs in February.
- Bottom 12 Teams: Eliminated from European competition entirely.
Knockout Format Breakdown
- 1st – 8th Place: Advance directly to the Round of 16.
- 9th – 24th Place: Enter the Knockout Round Playoffs (two-legged ties).
- 25th – 36th Place: Eliminated from all European competitions (no drop-down to Conference League).
Europa League Final Standings (Nation Selection)
| ✅ | Qualified | Directly |
| – | 🇫🇷 | Lyon |
| – | 🏴 | Aston Villa |
| – | 🇩🇰 | Midtjylland |
| – | 🇪🇸 | Real Betis |
| – | 🇵🇹 | Porto |
| – | 🇵🇹 | Braga |
| – | 🇩🇪 | Freiburg |
| – | 🇮🇹 | AS Rom |
| 📈 | Playoff | Spots Secured |
| – | 🇧🇪 | Genk |
| – | 🇮🇹 | Bologna |
| – | 🇩🇪 | Stuttgart |
| – | 🇭🇺 | Ferencváros |
| – | 🏴 | Nottingham Forest |
| – | 🇨🇿 | Viktoria Plzeň |
| – | 🇷🇸 | Crvena Zvezda |
| – | 🇪🇸 | Celta Vigo |
| – | 🇬🇷 | PAOK |
| – | 🇫🇷 | Lille |
| – | 🇹🇷 | Fenerbahçe |
| – | 🇬🇷 | Panathinaikos |
| – | 🏴 | Celtic |
| – | 🇧🇬 | Ludogorets |
| – | 🇭🇷 | Dynamo Zagreb |
| – | 🇳🇴 | Brann |
| ❌ | Eliminated | |
| – | 🇨🇭 | Young Boys Bern |
| – | 🇦🇹 | Sturm Graz |
| – | 🇷🇴 | FCSB |
| – | 🇳🇱 | Go Ahead Eagles |
| – | 🇳🇱 | Feyenoord |
| – | 🇨🇭 | Basel |
| – | 🇦🇹 | Salzburg |
| – | 🏴 | Rangers |
| – | 🇫🇷 | Nice |
| – | 🇳🇱 | Utrecht |
| – | 🇸🇪 | Malmö |
| – | 🇮🇱 | Maccabi TA |
UEFA Europa League league phase
The 2025/26 UEFA Europa League league phase concluded on January 29, 2026. This season marked the second year of the new 36-team single-league format, which delivered a highly competitive race for the top 8 spots.
League Phase Summary
- The Top Performers: Lyon and Aston Villa dominated the standings, both finishing with 21 points. Lyon took the top seed thanks to a superior goal difference (+13).
- Surprise Packages: Denmark’s FC Midtjylland shocked many by finishing 3rd, ahead of giants like Porto and Roma.
- Direct Qualifiers: The top 8 teams—Lyon, Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Porto, Real Betis, Braga, Freiburg, and Roma—advanced directly to the Round of 16.
- Knockout Play-offs: Teams ranked 9th to 24th (including Nottingham Forest, Bologna, and Lille) had to compete in a two-legged play-off in February 2026 to stay in the competition.
Final League Phase Standings (Top 24)
| # | Team | Points | GD | Status |
| 1 | Lyon | 21 | +13 | Direct to R16 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 21 | +8 | Direct to R16 |
| 3 | FC Midtjylland | 19 | +10 | Direct to R16 |
| 4 | Porto | 17 | +6 | Direct to R16 |
| 5 | Real Betis | 17 | +6 | Direct to R16 |
| 6 | Braga | 17 | +6 | Direct to R16 |
| 7 | Freiburg | 17 | +6 | Direct to R16 |
| 8 | Roma | 16 | +7 | Direct to R16 |
| 9 | Genk | 16 | +4 | Play-offs |
| 10 | Bologna | 15 | +7 | Play-offs |
| 11 | VfB Stuttgart | 15 | +6 | Play-offs |
| 12 | Ferencváros | 15 | +1 | Play-offs |
| 13 | Nottingham Forest | 14 | +8 | Play-offs |
| 14 | Viktoria Plzeň | 14 | +5 | Play-offs |
| 15 | Crvena Zvezda | 14 | +1 | Play-offs |
| 16 | Celta Vigo | 13 | +4 | Play-offs |
| 17 | PAOK | 12 | +3 | Play-offs |
| 18 | Lille | 12 | +3 | Play-offs |
| 19 | Fenerbahçe | 12 | +3 | Play-offs |
| 20 | Panathinaikos | 12 | +2 | Play-offs |
| 21 | Celtic | 11 | -2 | Play-offs |
| 22 | Ludogorets | 10 | -3 | Play-offs |
| 23 | Dinamo Zagreb | 10 | -4 | Play-offs |
| 24 | SK Brann | 9 | -2 | Play-offs |
Knockout Play-off Results (February 2026)
| Matchup | Aggregate Score | Winner |
| Ludogorets vs. Ferencváros | 2–3 | Ferencváros |
| Panathinaikos vs. Viktoria Plzeň | 3–3 (4–3 p) | Panathinaikos |
| Dinamo Zagreb vs. Genk | 4–6 | Genk |
| PAOK vs. Celta Vigo | 1–3 | Celta Vigo |
| Celtic vs. VfB Stuttgart | 2–4 | VfB Stuttgart |
| Fenerbahçe vs. Nottingham Forest | 2–4 | Nottingham Forest |
| Brann vs. Bologna | 0–2 | Bologna |
| Lille vs. Crvena Zvezda | 2–1 (AET) | Lille |
The Round of 16 is scheduled for March 12 and 19, 2026.
The history of the UEFA Europa League (often referred to simply as the Europa Cup in its earlier forms) is a story of evolution across several competitions:
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1955–1971):
- This was the initial predecessor of the competition.
- It was not initially run by UEFA, but by an organizing committee and was established to promote international trade fairs.
- Early participation was based on cities that held trade fairs, with only one team per city. This rule was later relaxed.
- UEFA Cup (1971–2009):
- In 1971, UEFA officially took over the competition, rebranding it as the UEFA Cup.
- It generally featured the next best-placed teams in national leagues after those qualifying for the European Champion Clubs’ Cup (later Champions League) and the now-defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
- For most of this period, the competition was a straight knockout tournament, with all ties (including the final until 1997-98) being two-legged.
- A group stage was added before the knockout phase starting with the 2004–2005 season.
- UEFA Europa League (2009–Present):
- The competition was rebranded as the UEFA Europa League for the 2009–2010 season, following a change in format.
- This rebranding included merging the remnants of the now-abolished UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup into its qualifying structure and saw the introduction of a larger group stage.
- The format has undergone further revisions, including:
- The addition of teams dropping down from the UEFA Champions League group stage.
- The creation of the UEFA Europa Conference League (now UEFA Conference League) in the 2021-2022 season, which affected the Europa League’s size and qualifying criteria.
- A significant format change to a single League Phase (instead of a traditional group stage) from the 2024-2025 season, following the lead of the UEFA Champions League.
The competition is considered the second-tier of European club football, below the UEFA Champions League, and is highly valued, with the winner earning an automatic spot in the following season’s Champions League. Sevilla is the most successful club in the history of the competition (including the UEFA Cup era), holding a record number of titles.
