Brighton and Hove Albion, making their debut in the UEFA Europa League, found themselves in a difficult predicament after the group stage draw on September 1. The English club landed in what many are calling the 'Group of Death,' along with Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique Marseille, and AEK Athens.
Liverpool, marking a return to the Europa League stage after a seven-year hiatus, will be competing in Group E. Their opponents include LASK, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Toulouse. Meanwhile, West Ham United, who qualified for the Europa League following their UEFA Europa Conference League victory last season, were drawn into Group A. They will face Greek titans Olympiacos, Freiburg, and Serbian club TSC Backa Topola.
The spotlight will undoubtedly be on Group B, where Brighton's mettle will be tested in their inaugural Europa League campaign. Managed by Roberto de Zerbi, the Seagulls are slated to battle it out against Dutch heavyweights Ajax and former Champions League victors Marseille. Completing the challenging group is AEK Athens.
Elsewhere in the draw, Group C features Rangers pitted against Real Betis, Sparta Prague, and Aris Limassol. Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, Sturm Graz, and Rakow Czestochowa make up Group D. Last season's Europa League finalists, AS Roma, have been drawn into Group G alongside Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol, and Servette. In Group F, former champions Villarreal will compete with Stade Rennais, Maccabi Haifa, and Panathinaikos. Group H sees Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde FK, and BK Hacken rounding out the draw.
The first matches kick off on September 21, with the group stage concluding on December 14. The Europa League final is set for May 22 and will be hosted at the Dublin Arena, boasting a capacity of 50,000.
As clubs prepare for the upcoming clashes, the newly revealed groups promise a compelling journey to the Europa League trophy. Whether it's Brighton's first-time appearance or Liverpool's much-anticipated return, the stage is set for a season filled with high-stakes matches and dramatic storylines.
Let's have a look at Europa League's draw:
GROUP A
West Ham United
Olympiacos
Freiburg
TSC Backa Topola
GROUP B
Ajax Amsterdam
Olympique de Marseille
Brighton & Hove Albion
AEK Athens
GROUP C
Rangers
Real Betis
Sparta Prague
Aris Limassol
GROUP D
Atalanta
Sporting
Sturm Graz
Rakow Czestochowa
GROUP E
Liverpool
LASK
Union Saint-Gilloise
Toulouse
GROUP F
Villarreal
Stade Rennais
Maccabi Haifa
Panathinaikos
GROUP G
AS Roma
Slavia Prague
Sheriff Tiraspol
Servette
GROUP H
Bayer Leverkusen
Qarabag
Molde FK
BK Hacken
Group Stage Dates
Matchday 1: September 21
Matchday 2: October 5
Matchday 3: October 26
Matchday 4: November 9
Matchday 5: November 30
Matchday 6: December 14
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