Manchester United will face a familiar foe in the Europa League this season, as they were drawn against former manager José Mourinho’s new club Fenerbahce in the group stage. The Red Devils will also face Rangers, PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, Twente, Porto, Viktoria Plzen, and FCSB in their eight-game group stage campaign.
The Europa League has undergone a format change this season, with the traditional group stage being replaced by an expanded league phase. All 36 teams will compete in a single standings, with the top eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16. Teams ranked ninth to 24th will enter the knockout playoffs, while the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated.
Manchester United will be looking to make a deep run in the Europa League this season, after reaching the semi-finals last year. They will be confident of their chances, having avoided being paired with some of the other top teams in the competition, such as Ajax, Tottenham, and Roma.
Fenerbahce will also be hoping to make an impact in the Europa League, with Mourinho at the helm. The Portuguese manager has a wealth of experience in the competition, having won it with Manchester United in 2017.
The Europa League group stage will begin on September 25th, with the final scheduled for May 21st at Athletic Bilbao’s stadium. The winner of the competition will earn a place in the next Champions League.
