Europe and the world got to know the new system of UEFA competitions through the Champions League, and the same awaits them in the Europa League...
Just like in the elite, 36 teams will fight for the final here in the Basque "San Mames" - all of them will play eight games with eight different rivals, and the number eight will be lucky for the best placed in the table as they will finish directly in the round of XNUMX.
Clubs that occupy positions from 9th to 24th, as well as in the Champions League, expect an additional playoff.
What is a big difference compared to previous seasons is that only the mentioned 24 teams continue the battle for Bilbao, since this time teams from the Champions League will not move to the Europa League.
And the first day of the new season in the second-highest UEFA competition brings the derby of angry neighbors, a clash in Istanbul between Turkish Galatasaray and Greek PAOK.
- I believe that we will confidently move towards our goals from the start. The first match is always difficult and very important, but we are only interested in winning. We know that our fans will be with us today, and we always do our best with them - he said Okan Buruk, coach Galate.
The fans of Galatasaray as a rival this time will have a coach whose name is celebrated every time it is mentioned in Istanbul - PAOK arrived on the Bosphorus with a coach Razvan Lucescu, the son of the legendary Mircea Lucescu.
The elder Lučesku Galati won the European Super Cup in 2000, and the domestic title two years later.
- Galatasaray's quality is obvious, but in matches like this it doesn't have to be decisive... I think the bigger motive will decide, said the Romanian expert.
The first night also brings a match of one of the greats - Manchester United will welcome Twente, and that duel will be interesting from Erik ten Haag's point of view, since the coach of the "devils" began and ended his playing career in the shirt of the club from Enschede.
- I would prefer if we got another rival, because it's not easy if you hurt someone you love - said the Dutch expert.
Our Adam Marušić's Lazio will also be on the field tonight - neutral in Hamburg, where Dinamo from Kiev will host the Sky Blues from Rome.
COUPLES FIRST NIGHT OF THE EUROPEAN LEAGUE
AZ - Elfsborg (18.45pm)
Bode/Glimt - Porto (18.45)
Anderlecht - Ferencvaros (21)
Dynamo Kyiv - Lazio (21)
Galatasaray - PAOK (21)
Ludogorets - Slavija (21)
M. United - Twente (21)
Midtjylland - Hoffenheim (21)
Nice - Sociedad (21)
Bonus video:
