The Europa League returns for its 54th edition in the 2024/2025 season. With the 25th September as the tournament's start date, fans are slowly readying themselves to witness some of Europe’s best battle it out for the highly desired Europa League trophy. Along with the prestige of winning such an award, the winners also receive automatic qualification to the Champions League, an opportunity to show what your team is made of on the grandest stage in Europe. Established in 1971, the Europa League has become renowned for its highly competitive football and is a fan favourite amongst true football enthusiasts who are seeking something different to what other tournaments typically offer. Whilst often overshadowed by its sister competition, the Champions League, the Europa League has its own unique charm. Prospering teams are given the chance to compete in a European competition without the footballing elite dominating the whole tournament, offering a much larger display of underdog performances where these teams can truly shine. Further adding to the excitement is the introduction of a new format, further increasing the stakes of this year's tournament. Join Ticketkosta as we dive into these changes on top of what teams we believe are going to be notable standouts in the 2024/2025 Europa League.

The new format for the tournament was decided on in 2022 and has also been implemented for the upcoming 2024/2025 Champions League and Conference League. It replaces the traditional 32 teams taking part with 36 teams playing in a league. Instead of the typical group stage format we know and love where each team will play 6 matches against teams in their groups, they will now play 8 matches, with each being against a different team. Teams are being split into 4 pots based on their rank and every team will have to play against 2 teams in each, giving them the opportunity to test their abilities against a wider range of teams than typically possible. In this league system, each match will give teams the chance to earn points and move their position higher up in the table. Out of the 36 teams that take part, the top 8 will automatically qualify for the round of 16 with the next 16 teams having to take part in the play-offs to secure their place. Once the teams taking part in the Round of 16 have been decided, the tournament will progress in its usual manner all the way to the final. The introduction of this format is an interesting addition to a tournament that is already packed with competition, and fans will be looking forward to seeing just how much of an impact this change really has.

With the start date of the tournament looming closer, let's talk about the teams that we believe pose the greatest threat in pushing for the title. Manchester United displayed some fairly poor performances last season, failing to qualify for the Champions League and finishing in 8th place, their worst finish in history. Despite this, they have managed to secure qualification for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup against Manchester City in a performance that shocked football enthusiasts predicting another City victory. With Ten Hag under the helm and his transfer targets yet to be met, will Manchester United be able to restructure themselves in time for the start of the 2024/2025 Europa League campaign?

Another team who have a fairly good chance at victory are Tottenham. Tottenham secured qualification for the Europa League after finishing 5th in the Premier League. Whilst their trophy record may be somewhat lacking, with their last Europa League trophy being won in 1984, Postecoglou aims to turn Tottenham's fortunes around and win their first trophy since 2008. With a promising line-up and even more potential new signings, this is an achievable goal. Another team that has sparked our interest is Athletic Bilbao. Athletic Bilbao put on an impressive display last season, securing qualification for the Europa League twice. They finished in 5th place at the end of the 2023/2024 La Liga season and on top of this won the Copa del Rey, where they had to beat teams such as Barcelona and Atlético Madrid to earn their place in the final. With such spectacular performances against Champions League level teams, Athletic Bilbao will be a real threat for any team that attempts to challenge them in the Europa League. Whilst we have only named a small set of teams, it is important to note that these are just notable mentions of some of the teams that we believe could win it. Due to the unpredictable nature of football, we will never truly know who the winner is going to be until the final whistle is blown. As always, the Europa League is guaranteed to be full of surprises and underdog performances, with unexpected twists a staple part of the tournament.

As we look forward to the upcoming season, one thing is certain, the Europa League will once again deliver drama, passion, and unforgettable moments that will keep fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. Don't miss out on a chance to witness thrilling clashes in some of Europe’s best and iconic venues. Purchase your tickets with TicketKosta through our secure online booking system and be a part of Europa League history.