Tottenham returns to UEFA competitions, new Europa League format explained

Outlet football.london has laid out the changes for the 2024/2025 UEFA Europa League, and it’s a big shake-up. With the new format, Tottenham Hotspur are looking at more games and some new hurdles to tackle.

For the upcoming season, the Europa League will transition from its traditional group stage to a league phase. This new approach means that each team will now play eight matches instead of the previous six.

This change is expected to affect the tournament dynamics significantly, with Tottenham likely to be at the center of this transformation.

A total of 36 teams will compete in the league phase, creating a more extensive and complex competition. Tottenham, with their high UEFA coefficient, will be placed in Pot A along with other notable clubs such as Manchester United, AS Roma, and Porto.

The draw to determine the specific fixtures for each team will take place on August 30 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo.

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Tottenham returns to UEFA competitions, new Europa League format explained

In this new format, each team will face two opponents from each of the four pots: Pot A, Pot B, Pot C, and Pot D. Tottenham will be pitted against two teams from Pot A, two from Pot B, two from Pot C, and two from Pot D.

Importantly, teams cannot be drawn against clubs from their own country, and they can face a maximum of two teams from the same nation.

This overhaul of the competition is expected to make the Europa League more engaging, offering a diverse range of opponents and reducing the predictability of playing the same teams home and away.

While the increase in matches presents a challenge, it also introduces a bit more leeway for teams to secure qualification. The extended league phase means there is more room for error, which could benefit teams by allowing greater squad rotation throughout the tournament.

For Tottenham Hotspur, the new format is a great chance to see how deep their squad really is and try out different tactics with manager Ange Postecoglou. The extra games will let Spurs bring in new players and mix up their strategies as they go for a strong performance in the competition.

Overall, the 2024/25 Europa League is set to be more exciting and unpredictable than ever. With Tottenham and Manchester United preparing for a season that could change their European fortunes, fans can expect a tournament full of variety and competition when the league phase begins.