Article 13 Competition stages and seeding - Europa League

13.01

Matches in all stages of the competition are played in conformity with the IFAB Laws of the Game. The half-time interval lasts 15 minutes.

13.02

The competition stages are as follows (see Annex B):

1. Qualifying phase, divided into:

   • main path, composed of:

     - third qualifying round;

   • champions path, composed of:

     - third qualifying round;

2. Play-offs;

3. UEFA Europa League, composed of:

   • group stage (six matchdays);

   • knockout stage:

     - knockout round play-offs;

     - round of 16;

     - quarter-finals;

     - semi-finals;

     - final.

13.03

The clubs that qualify directly for the third qualifying round of the main path (see Annex A) are seeded above the clubs eliminated from the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League (league path). A draw is held in accordance with the Club Competitions Committee principles for determining pairings. Seeded teams are drawn against unseeded teams. Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.

13.04

No teams are seeded for the third qualifying round of the champions path. An open draw is held to determine pairings.

13.05

For the play-offs, teams are seeded and drawn in accordance with the Club Competitions Committee principles for guaranteeing that eight clubs eliminated from the UEFA Champions League (champions path) are drawn against each other. The teams are seeded in the following four priorities (see Annex A):

Priority 1: The six teams that qualify directly for the play-offs via the domestic competitions.

Priority 2: The six teams that enter the play-offs from the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League champions path.

Priority 3: The five teams that qualify from the third qualifying round of the champions path.

Priority 4: The three teams that qualify from the third qualifying round of the main path.

The teams are drawn in accordance with the priorities in the following order:

1. The six priority 1 teams are drawn against the three priority 4 teams to determine three pairings.

2. The three remaining priority 1 teams are drawn against the five priority 3 teams to determine three pairings.

3. The two remaining priority 3 teams are drawn against the six priority 2 teams to determine two pairings.

4. The four remaining priority 2 teams are drawn against each other to determine two pairings.

13.06

The ties are determined by means of a draw. The club drawn first plays the first leg of the tie at home, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 13.02 and Article 14 to Article 24.

13.07

For the group stage draw, the 32 clubs are seeded into four groups of eight in accordance with the club coefficient rankings established at the beginning of the season (see Annex D) and with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee.

13.08

For the knockout round play-offs, the runners-up are seeded above the teams that finish third in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

13.09

For the round of 16, the group winners are seeded above the eight winners of the knockout round play-offs.

13.10

The UEFA administration may decide that a tie be played in one leg, if circumstances so require, and will set the principles for determining the winner accordingly.