UEFA Europa League

May 22, 2025 in Budapest (Hungary)

What is the Europa League?

Created in 1971 by UEFA, the Europa League is a kind of second-tier Champions League, bringing together lower-profile teams. The competition is organized around two-legged knockout ties, except for the final, which is played as a single match on neutral ground.

The winner of the Europa League faces the winner of the Champions League in the UEFA Super Cup. They are also automatically qualified for the Champions League.

Where is the 2025 Europa League final played?

The 2025 Europa League final is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. This year, the final will take place at the Stade de France, located in Saint-Denis, France. This iconic stadium is the ideal setting to crown the Europa League champion, offering an electric atmosphere and a world-class playing field.

The Europa League draws

At the end of this European week, eight teams that finished second in their group, and eight others dropped down after finishing third in their Champions League group stage, meet in the C3 play-offs. Every round of the Europa League is marked by exciting draws, where clubs prepare to face opponents, often from different countries.

Clubs qualified for the 2025 UEFA Europa League

The 2025 Europa League competition has attracted an impressive range of clubs from across Europe. Prestigious teams such as Manchester United, AS Roma, Villarreal CF and Napoli have qualified for the group stage, creating a competitive and exciting draw.

Dropped into the UEFA Europa Conference League play-offs: Ajax, Maccabi Haifa, Molde, Olympiacos, Real Betis, Servette, Sturm Graz, Union SG

What is C3 in football?

The UEFA Europa League, sometimes abbreviated as C3 and formerly called the UEFA Cup (from its creation in 1971 until 2009), is an annual football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The Europa League, often nicknamed "C3," is the third most important club competition in Europe, behind the Champions League (C1) and the Women's Champions League (C1F). It offers European clubs an opportunity to shine on the continental stage, while also offering the winner a spot in the Champions League.

The Europa League play-offs

The Europa League play-offs are a crucial step on the road to the title. Clubs that qualified for the Europa League group stage first had to get through these play-offs to reach the group stage. Play-offs for the knockout stage are held before the round of 16 between the eight second-place teams and the third-place teams from the Europa League groups.

Top scorers and record of the UEFA Europa League

The Europa League has a long history filled with memorable moments. Legendary teams such as Sevilla FC and FC Porto have left their mark on the competition by winning the trophy multiple times. One of the most exciting aspects of this competition is the pursuit by strikers to score goals and enter the history books. Here's an overview of the UEFA Europa League's all-time top scorers:

• - Henrik Larsson (40 goals): Former Swedish star Henrik Larsson sits at the top of the list of the competition's all-time top scorers. Larsson scored 40 goals in the Europa League over his career, notably with Celtic Glasgow and other clubs.
• - Radamel Falcao (30 goals): Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is one of the big names associated with the competition. He shone with Porto and Atletico Madrid, scoring a total of 30 goals in the Europa League.
• - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (34 goals): Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made his mark in the Europa League playing for clubs such as Ajax Amsterdam and Schalke 04, scoring a total of 34 goals.
• - Aritz Aduriz (29 goals): Spaniard Aritz Aduriz is another name well known to fans of the competition. He scored 29 goals mainly with Athletic Bilbao.
• - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (25 goals): The talented Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left an indelible mark in the Europa League, with impressive performances for Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal FC, scoring 25 goals in total.
• - Alessandro Altobelli (25 goals): Former Italian legend Alessandro Altobelli made a splash playing for Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup, scoring 25 goals over his career.
• - Dieter Müller (25 goals): Former German striker Dieter Müller was a prolific scorer for FC Cologne and scored 25 goals in the UEFA Cup.
• - Radomir Vukcevic (25 goals): Yugoslav striker Radomir Vukcevic also scored 25 goals for Red Star Belgrade, making him one of the legends of the competition.

See also