Europa League Matchday Preview: Full Fixture Guide
Europa League Matchday 1 takes place across Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September, with every team beginning an eight-match schedule against eight different opponents.
This preview covers the complete Matchday 1 fixture list, highlights some of the most notable games and explains how the opening round fits into the new league-phase format.
With 18 matches spread across two days, there is plenty to follow as clubs begin their campaigns and look to build an early position in the table.
What Are The Europa League Matchday 2 Fixtures?
Each side plays eight league-phase matches, four at home and four away, against eight different opponents.
The top eight teams at the end of the eight-match league phase qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing ninth to 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs, while those finishing 25th to 36th are eliminated from the competition.
The latest Europa League fixtures can be found below:
Thursday, 15 October
RB Salzburg – AC Milan – 5:45pm
Torreense vs Sunderland – 5:45pm
Celje vs Omonia – 5:45pm
AZ Alkmaar vs H. Beer-Sheva – 5:45pm
Sparta Praha vs Lillestrom – 5:45pm
Lyon vs Crystal Palace – 5:45pm
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Real Sociedad – 5:45pm
Lech Poznan vs Bayer Leverkusen – 5:45pm
Ferencvaros vs Viktoria Plzen – 8pm
Rennes vs OFI – 8pm
Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht – 8pm
NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia – 8pm
Celta Vigo vs Juventus – 8pm
Hoffenheim vs Besiktas – 8pm
Jagiellonia vs Ararat-Armenia – 8pm
Bournemouth vs Sturm Graz – 8pm
Benfica vs Celtic – 8pm
Marseille vs Olympiacos – 8pm
The league phase continues with Matchday 2 on 15 October, followed by further rounds on 22 October, 5 November, 26 November, 10 December, 21 January and 28 January.
Europa League Matchday 2: Game of the Round Preview
Benfica v Celtic stands out as the Game of the Round, with both sides heading into their Matchday 2 meeting after contrasting starts to the Europa League league phase.
Benfica opened their campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory away to AC Milan at San Siro, extending a strong run of results that has also included wins over Estoril, MarÃtimo, Moreirense and Gil Vicente.
The Portuguese side have scored 17 goals across their last five domestic matches, while their victory in Milan gave them an early platform in the single-table league phase.
Celtic, meanwhile, suffered a difficult opening night, losing 3-1 at home to Ferencváros.
That followed a 3-0 defeat to Rangers in the Scottish League Cup, although Celtic had won their previous four domestic matches, including victories over Aberdeen, St Mirren and St Johnstone.
The fixture will be played at Estádio da Luz on 15 October and represents the second of eight league-phase matches for both clubs. Benfica and Celtic have also met twice previously in the Champions League, with Benfica winning 2-1 in Lisbon in 2012 after a goalless draw in Glasgow.
What Were The Europa League Matchday 1 Results?
The latest Europa League results are:
Wednesday, 16 September
Omonia 1-0 Celta – 5:45pm
Ararat-Armenia 1-4 Sparta Praha – 5:45pm
Olympiacos 2-1 Jagiellonia – 8pm
Anderlecht 1-2 Lyon – 8pm
Leverkusen 2-0 Celje – 8pm
Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar – 8pm
Milan 0-2 Benfica – 8pm
Sturm Graz 0-0 Rennes – 8pm
H. Beer-Sheva 0-0 Dinamo Zagreb – 8pm
Thursday, 17 September
Levski Sofia 0-1 RB Salzburg – 5:45pm
OFI 2-0 Hoffenheim – 5:45pm
Celtic 1-3 Ferencvaros – 8pm
Juventus 5-0 NEC Nijmegen – 8pm
Viktoria Plzen 0-3 Union Saint-Gilloise – 8pm
Besiktas 4-1 Marseille – 8pm
Lillestrom 1-2 Torreense – 8pm
Crystal Palace 4-0 Lech Poznan – 8pm
Real Sociedad 1-2 Bournemouth – 8pm
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