Europa League groups in full
Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: Milan, Austria Vienna, Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon.
Group F: Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, Zlin.
Group G: Viktoria Plzen, FCSB, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Crvena Zvezda.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria SC, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar Skopje.
Our quick reaction here:
The first ties will be played on 14 September. Enjoy!
I’ll post the full groups in a bit but a recap of Arsenal and Everton’s fates:
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade
Happy? Sad? Quite tough all round I think. My tie of the round if Red Star Belgrade v Arsenal – the Marakana will be absolutely thumping.
Other curiosities: is it wise that Partizan Belgrade play Skenderbeu of Albania? I’d assumed they were separated and, if I can say so, I’ve seen a bit of this before. Lazio v Nice should also be fun.
And we finish with Vardar Skopje of Macedonia – they complete Group L with Zenit, Real Sociedad and Rosenborg.
Vitesse into Group K with Lazio, Nice and Zulte Waregem.
Ostersunds, the Swedish surprise package, get a nice Group Jn with Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin and Zorya Luhansk!
FC Zlin, of Czech Rep, are in Group F with Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow and Sheriff.
Konyaspor enter Group I with Salzburg, Marseille and Vitoria SC.
Apollon Limassol will play in Group E with Lyon, Everton and Atalanta.
Red Star Belgrade join Arsenal, BATE Borisov and Cologne in Group H! That IS tasty!
Lugano are in Group G with Plzen, FCSB and Beer Sheva.
AEK Athens go with Austria Vienna, AC Milan and Rijeka in Group D.
Istanbul Basaksehir join Group C with Braga, Ludogorets and Hoffenheim ...
Skenderbeu, of Albania, top off Group B with Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys and Partizan Belgrade. Hang on, that’s Albania v Serbia .....
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Here we go then. Slavia Prague complete Group A with Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Astana.
We await Pot 4. Would Arsenal fans like something a bit more exotic here? BATE is a bit Champions League, even though they haven’t played one another, and Cologne is fairly standard.
Zulte Waragem are added to Group K with Lazio and Nice, which leaves Rosenborg to join Zenit and Real Sociedad in Group L.
Sheriff Tiraspol link up with Copenhagen and Lokomotiv Moscow in Group F.
Zorya Luhansk go into Group J with Athletic Bilbao and Hertha Berlin.
Vitoria SC join Marseille and Salzburg in Group I.
Cologne join Arsenal and BATE in Group H. Currently I think Arsenal would take this.
Atalanta, a bit of a dark horse I reckon, join Everton and Lyon in an exciting-looking Group E!
Rijeka plop into Group D with AC Milan and Austria Vienna.
Hoffenheim join Braga and Ludogorets in Group C; Hapoel Beer Sheva are with FSCB and Viktoria Plzen in Group G.
Partizan Belgrade join Dynamo Kiev and Young Boys in Group B.
Pot three! And here we go with Astana in Group A – Villarreal and Maccabi Tel Aviv with them.
We finish with Group F, Lokomotiv Moscow in with Copenhagen.
Real Sociedad are in Group L with Zenit ... and Everton in Group E with Lyon! Tough!
And now Nice come out of the bag – they’re in with Group K with Lazio. Tasty, too!
Hertha Berlin will play in Group J with Athletic Bilbao. Not terrible.
A trip to Belarus for the Gunners, then! Cracking on, Marseille go into Group I with Salzburg.
FCSB (Steaua Bucharest as was) go into Group G with Viktoria Plzen; BATE Borisov land in Group H with Arsenal!
Ludogorets join Braga in Group C; Austria Vienna are in Group D with AC Milan!
Next out are Young Boys, into Group B with Dynamo Kiev.
Onto Pot Two. Maccabi Tel Aviv, coached by Jordi Cruyff, enter Group A with Villarreal.
Going along at a nice speed, this. Lazio will be in Group K and Zenit St Petersburg in Group L – so that wraps up Pot One.
Salzburg lead the way in Group I. Athletic Bilbao pop into Group J.
Viktoria Plzen enter Group G, and Arsenal are in Group H.
AC Milan go into Group D, Lyon into Group E and Copenhagen into Group F.
First out in pot one are Villarreal! They will play in Group A. Dynamo Kiev will helm. Braga in Group C.
Ok, we’re into pure draw stuff – starting now ...
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“Hoffenheim are probably one of the stronger teams outside of pot 1. One for Everton and Arsenal to avoid?” asks Alexandra Johnson.
Definitely! They are better than they showed against Liverpool.
Some nice points from Matt Loten in the meantime:
“I think, as well, that people forget that the general standard of football across Europe, particularly in the major leagues, is of such a high level these days that there are some genuinely excellent teams in this competition. Last year’s semi-finalists were Ajax, Lyon, Celta Vigo and Manchester United: all teams with distinct styles and exciting individual talents. Add in the fact the likes of Villareal, Fiorentina, Roma, Olympiacos and others had fallen before we even reached that stage, and it’s hard to argue their isn’t plenty of entertainment and talent to be found in the Europa League. Not to mention, it’s a much more difficult competition to predict, which is always a good thing.”
Uefa general secretary Claudio Ranieri Jr Giorgio Marchetti is now introducing proceedings so we’re really not far off now ...
Eric Abidal is now up on the stage too – so I suspect he’ll be involved in the fun that’s to come.
@NickAmes82 Gooner living in Berlin so Arsenal vs. Hertha will do me very nicely
— Jonners (@godsavetebe) August 25, 2017
That’d be a very nice tie too.
By the way, the draw ceremony has begun here. Henrik Larsson has taken to the stage and going through the usual awkward-ish chit-chat about his career.
Ceri Jackson wants a big push from England’s representatives: “Hopefully after United winning it last year and getting to the champions league this year we will see English teams take the competition more seriously. Wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal or Everton really went for it this year.”
This is the ball they will be playing with:
New season. New ⚽.
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 25, 2017
Introducing the new 2017/18 #UEL official match ball by @adidasfootball. #HereToCreate pic.twitter.com/4mwikPtQZq
From Sandra Nunez: “I agree with you about the most interesting teams but maybe I add Slavia Praha to your list. They have some interesting players like Halil Altıntop, Ruslan Rotan or Van Buren. After the disappointment of not being in Champions League the will want to do their best in Europa League.”
Good shout. And isn’t Danny there now, too?
Martin Turnbull writes: “I am with you. The UCL is so predictable and ever more slanted to the big countries, getting more so next year. Might as well just have six teams from the big five in the UCL and chuck everyone else in the Europa.”
We’ll almost be at that stage a year from now, of course. Let’s enjoy this season because the pause button is about to be hit.
If I say Zulte Waregem, you say...? Honestly curious to know whether the Farmers already ring a bell (and if so, which) across the Channel
— The Ardoisier (@TheArdoisier) August 25, 2017
What do you say?
Ahem. Here are some of the interesting names to look out for in the draw:
Ostersunds: Swedish minnows who, incredibly and implausibly, have made it this far under the stewardship of Englishman Graham Potter. They’re based a five-hour train ride north of Stockholm. Brilliant trip for somebody.
Istanbul Basaksehir: Arriviste Turkish club who are better than pot four and can call upon Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Adebayor. Could be fun for Arsenal!
Vardar Skopje: The first Macedonian team to have got this far. Scalps this summer already include Malmo and Fenerbahce.
Red Star Belgrade: First group stage appearance in a decade for the one-time European champions, who beat Krasnodar yesterday. Are they on their way back? An away tie at the Marakana would be quite the experience for Arsenal or Everton.
Nice: Knocked out by Napoli in the Champions League play-offs but Balotelli, Sneijder, Seri and company won’t be anyone’s first choice for a Pot 2 opponent.
Anyone else you’re fascinated by? Email me! Let’s chat!
It’s a really fun-looking draw, this. Something for everyone. The most eclectic mix I think there’s been in a major European competition for some time.
Which brings me to something that has annoyed me. I’ve seen more than one tweet from Arsenal fans – in this instance, but some Man Utd fans were similar last year – bemoaning “the state of these teams/this draw” upon viewing the posts. The state of what, exactly? The state of a draw that contains four previous European Cup winners? The state of a draw that contains teams from around 30 different countries? What you’re seeing here, like it or not, is the state of European football – and I think you’re lucky to be a part of it. The Champions League draw looks great but the prevailing thought that it means everything is one of modern football’s great tragedies; in this draw you have a brilliant and far more accurate cross-section of exactly what is going on, football-wise, on this continent. You’re implicated in it; you might even be partly responsible for it. So why not enjoy it and take an interest? If you really love football, this is a great lineup of teams and a fascinating set of challenges.
Hello!
The Europa League draw is here! Soon, anyway, and hopefully very soon – this one usually lacks the excruciating pageantry of the Champions League ritual, and with 48 teams in this one there is every reason to get cracking at a fair pelt. I’ll put some ramblings up shortly but for now, here are the pots. Arsenal and Everton both involved here, as if you’d forgotten:
Pot 1: Arsenal, Zenit St. Petersburg, Lyon, Dynamo Kiev, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Lazio, AC Milan, Viktoria Plzen, FC Salzburg, FC Copenhagen, Braga
Pot 2: Steaua Bucharest, Ludogorets Razgrad, BATE Borisov, Everton, Young Boys, Marseille, Real Sociedad, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Lokomotiv Moscow, Austria Vienna, Hertha Berlin, Nice
Pot 3: Astana, Partizan Belgrade, Hoffenheim, Cologne, NK Rijeka, Vitoria Guimaraes, Atalanta, Zulte Waregem, Zorya Luhansk, Rosenborg, Sheriff Tiraspol, Hapoel Beer-Sheva
Pot 4: Apollon Limassol, Istanbul Basaksehir, Konyaspor, Vitesse Arnhem, Slavia Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Skenderbeu, FC Zlin, AEK Athens, FC Lugano, Vardar Skopje, Ostersunds
As you know, it’s one team from each pot per group – but you can’t play against teams from your own country. They’ll also be keeping the Russian and Ukrainian teams apart, while I imagine the same also goes for Serbian and Albanian sides (so, basically, Partizan Belgrade and Skenderbeu).
The draw begins at midday UK time.
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