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2023–24 UEFA Europa League group stage

March 13, 2024

The 2023–24 UEFA Europa League group stage began on 21 September 2023 and ended on 14 December 2023. A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide 16 of the 24 places in the knockout phase of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League.

Aris Limassol, Brighton & Hove Albion, BK Häcken, Raków Częstochowa, Servette and TSC made their debut appearances in the group stage. All six clubs also made their debut appearances in a UEFA competition group stage. Furthermore, Brighton & Hove Albion qualified for European football for the first time in their history. A total of 21 national associations were represented in the group stage.

This was the final season with the group stage format, which was replaced by the league phase format starting from the next season.[1]

Draw edit

The draw for the group stage was held on 1 September 2023, 13:00 CEST, in Monaco. The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four. For the draw, the teams were seeded into four pots, each of eight teams, based on their 2023 UEFA club coefficients.[2] Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group. Prior to the draw, UEFA formed pairings of teams from the same association, including those playing in the Europa Conference League group stage (one pairing for associations with two or three teams, two pairings for associations with four or five teams), based on television audiences, where one team was drawn into Groups A–D and another team was drawn into Groups E–H, so that the two teams would have different kick-off times. The following pairings were announced by UEFA after the group stage teams were confirmed (the second team in a pairing marked by UECL played in the Europa Conference League group stage):[3]

Teams edit

Below were the participating teams (with their 2023 UEFA club coefficients),[2] grouped by their seeding pot. They included:

Key to colours
Group winners advanced directly to round of 16
Group runners-up advanced to knockout round play-offs
Third-placed teams entered Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs
Pot 1
Team Notes Coeff.[2]
  West Ham United 50.000
  Liverpool 123.000
  Roma 97.000
  Ajax [EL-PO] 89.000
  Villarreal 82.000
  Bayer Leverkusen 72.000
  Atalanta 55.500
  Rangers [CL-LP] 54.000
Pot 2
Team Notes Coeff.[2]
  Sporting CP 52.500
  Slavia Prague [EL-PO] 52.000
  Rennes 44.000
  Olympiacos [EL-PO] 39.000
  Real Betis 37.000
  LASK [EL-PO] 36.000
  Marseille [CL-LQ] 33.000
  Qarabağ [EL-PO] 25.000

Notes

  1. EL-PO Winners of play-off round.
  2. CL-CP Losers of Champions League play-off round (Champions Path).
  3. CL-LP Losers of Champions League play-off round (League Path).
  4. CL-LQ Losers of Champions League third qualifying round (League Path).

Format edit

In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The winners of each group advanced to the round of 16, while the runners-up advanced to the knockout round play-offs. The third-placed teams were transferred to the Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs, while the fourth-placed teams were eliminated from European competitions for the season.

Tiebreakers edit

Teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If two or more teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (see Article 16 Equality of points – group stage, Regulations of the UEFA Europa League):[4]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Away goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Wins in all group matches;
  9. Away wins in all group matches;
  10. Disciplinary points (direct red card = 3 points; double yellow card = 3 points; single yellow card = 1 point);
  11. UEFA club coefficient.

Groups edit

The fixtures were announced on 2 September 2023, the day after the draw. The matches were played on 21 September, 5 October, 26 October, 9 November, 30 November and 14 December 2023. The scheduled kick-off times were 18:45 and 21:00 CET/CEST.

Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Group A edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification WHU FRE OLY TSC
1   West Ham United 6 5 0 1 10 4 +6 15 Advance to round of 16 — 2–0 1–0 3–1
2   SC Freiburg 6 4 0 2 17 7 +10 12 Advance to knockout round play-offs 1–2 — 5–0 5–0
3   Olympiacos 6 2 1 3 11 14 −3 7 Transfer to Europa Conference League 2–1 2–3 — 5–2
4   TSC 6 0 1 5 6 19 −13 1 0–1 1–3 2–2 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
West Ham United  3–1  TSC
  • Kudus   66', 70'
  • Souček   82'
 Report[6]
Attendance: 41,374[5]
Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)
Olympiacos  2–3  SC Freiburg
 Report[8]
Attendance: 30,056[7]
Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)
SC Freiburg  1–2  West Ham United
 Report[10]
Attendance: 34,100[9]
TSC  2–2  Olympiacos
 Report[12]
Attendance: 3,778[11]
Olympiacos  2–1  West Ham United
 Report[14]
Attendance: 30,623[13]
TSC  1–3  SC Freiburg
 Report[16]
Attendance: 3,400[15]
SC Freiburg  5–0  TSC
 Report[18]
Attendance: 31,700[17]
Referee: Rohit Saggi (Norway)
Attendance: 55,811[19]
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
SC Freiburg  5–0  Olympiacos
 Report[22]
Attendance: 34,000[21]
TSC  0–1  West Ham United
Report[24]
Attendance: 4,256[23]
Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)
Attendance: 48,876[25]
Olympiacos  5–2  TSC
 Report[28]
Attendance: 20[27]
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)

Group B edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BHA MAR AJA AEK
1   Brighton & Hove Albion 6 4 1 1 10 5 +5 13 Advance to round of 16 — 1–0 2–0 2–3
2   Marseille 6 3 2 1 14 10 +4 11 Advance to knockout round play-offs 2–2 — 4–3 3–1
3   Ajax 6 1 2 3 10 13 −3 5 Transfer to Europa Conference League 0–2 3–3 — 3–1
4   AEK Athens 6 1 1 4 6 12 −6 4 0–1 0–2 1–1 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Ajax  3–3  Marseille
 Report[30]
Attendance: 53,000[29]
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Brighton & Hove Albion  2–3  AEK Athens
 Report[32]
Attendance: 30,178[31]
Marseille  2–2  Brighton & Hove Albion
 Report[34]
Attendance: 63,465[33]
Referee: Mykola Balakin (Ukraine)
AEK Athens  1–1  Ajax
 Report[36]
Attendance: 29,524[35]
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Marseille  3–1  AEK Athens
 Report[38]
Attendance: 65,092[37]
Attendance: 30,540[39]
Ajax  0–2  Brighton & Hove Albion
Report[42]
Attendance: 52,095[41]
AEK Athens  0–2  Marseille
Report[44]
Attendance: 30,530[43]
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
Attendance: 30,520[45]
Marseille  4–3  Ajax
 Report[48]
Attendance: 60,638[47]
Referee: Simone Sozza (Italy)
Ajax  3–1  AEK Athens
 Report[50]
Attendance: 53,926[49]
Attendance: 30,214[51]

Group C edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RAN SPP BET ALI
1   Rangers 6 3 2 1 8 6 +2 11 Advance to round of 16 — 2–1 1–0 1–1
2   Sparta Prague 6 3 1 2 9 7 +2 10 Advance to knockout round play-offs 0–0 — 1–0 3–2
3   Real Betis 6 3 0 3 9 7 +2 9 Transfer to Europa Conference League 2–3 2–1 — 4–1
4   Aris Limassol 6 1 1 4 7 13 −6 4 2–1 1–3 0–1 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Sparta Prague  3–2  Aris Limassol
 Report[54]
Attendance: 17,371[53]
Rangers  1–0  Real Betis
 Report[56]
Attendance: 45,634[55]
Referee: Lawrence Visser (Belgium)
Real Betis  2–1  Sparta Prague
 Report[58]
Attendance: 45,037[57]
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)
Attendance: 3,911[59]
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic (Romania)
Attendance: 18,250[61]
Attendance: 3,945[63]
Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)
Real Betis  4–1  Aris Limassol
 Report[66]
Attendance: 41,768[65]
Rangers  2–1  Sparta Prague
 Report[68]
Attendance: 48,838[67]
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)
Attendance: 18,095[69]
Rangers  1–1  Aris Limassol
 Report[72]
Attendance: 48,890[71]
Referee: Rohit Saggi (Norway)
Real Betis  2–3  Rangers
 Report[74]
Attendance: 48,380[73]
Aris Limassol  1–3  Sparta Prague
 Report[76]
Attendance: 2,859[75]
Referee: Harm Osmers (Germany)

Group D edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ATA SCP STU RAK
1   Atalanta 6 4 2 0 12 4 +8 14 Advance to round of 16 — 1–1 1–0 2–0
2   Sporting CP 6 3 2 1 10 6 +4 11 Advance to knockout round play-offs 1–2 — 3–0 2–1
3   Sturm Graz 6 1 1 4 4 9 −5 4[a] Transfer to Europa Conference League 2–2 1–2 — 0–1
4   Raków Częstochowa 6 1 1 4 3 10 −7 4[a] 0–4 1–1 0–1 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head results. Overall goal difference used as a tiebreaker.
Attendance: 13,698[77]
Sturm Graz  1–2  Sporting CP
 Report[80]
Attendance: 13,517[79]
Sporting CP  1–2  Atalanta
 Report[82]
Attendance: 42,301[81]
Attendance: 8,993[83]
Sturm Graz  2–2  Atalanta
 Report[86]
Attendance: 14,167[85]
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)
Attendance: 10,518[87]
Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou (Greece)
Atalanta  1–0  Sturm Graz
 Report[90]
Attendance: 14,739[89]
Sporting CP  2–1  Raków Częstochowa
 Report[92]
Attendance: 32,940[91]
Referee: Enea Jorgji (Albania)
Atalanta  1–1  Sporting CP
 Report[94]
Attendance: 14,865[93]
Attendance: 12,517[95]
Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)
Sporting CP  3–0  Sturm Graz
 Report[98]
Attendance: 24,733[97]
Raków Częstochowa  0–4  Atalanta
Report[100]
Attendance: 10,386[99]
Referee: Enea Jorgji (Albania)

Group E edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV TOU USG LAS
1   Liverpool 6 4 0 2 17 7 +10 12 Advance to round of 16 — 5–1 2–0 4–0
2   Toulouse 6 3 2 1 8 9 −1 11 Advance to knockout round play-offs 3–2 — 0–0 1–0
3   Union Saint-Gilloise 6 2 2 2 5 8 −3 8 Transfer to Europa Conference League 2–1 1–1 — 2–1
4   LASK 6 1 0 5 6 12 −6 3 1–3 1–2 3–0 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
LASK  1–3  Liverpool
 Report[102]
Attendance: 18,091[101]
Union Saint-Gilloise  1–1  Toulouse
 Report[104]
Attendance: 12,162[103]
Referee: Rohit Saggi (Norway)
Attendance: 49,513[105]
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)
Toulouse  1–0  LASK
 Report[108]
Attendance: 29,233[107]
Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland)
Union Saint-Gilloise  2–1  LASK
 Report[110]
Attendance: 11,426[109]
Referee: Atilla Karaoğlan (Turkey)
Liverpool  5–1  Toulouse
 Report[112]
Attendance: 49,338[111]
Referee: Rade Obrenović (Slovenia)
LASK  3–0  Union Saint-Gilloise
 Report[114]
Attendance: 15,900[113]
Referee: Simone Sozza (Italy)
Toulouse  3–2  Liverpool
 Report[116]
Attendance: 32,026[115]
Liverpool  4–0  LASK
 Report[118]
Attendance: 49,666[117]
Referee: Urs Schnyder (Switzerland)
Attendance: 31,205[119]
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Union Saint-Gilloise  2–1  Liverpool
 Report[122]
Attendance: 16,959[121]
LASK  1–2  Toulouse
 Report[124]
Attendance: 16,100[123]
Referee: Fabio Maresca (Italy)

Group F edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VIL REN MHA PAO
1   Villarreal 6 4 1 1 9 7 +2 13 Advance to round of 16 — 1–0 0–0 3–2
2   Rennes 6 4 0 2 13 6 +7 12 Advance to knockout round play-offs 2–3 — 3–0 3–1
3   Maccabi Haifa 6 1 2 3 3 9 −6 5 Transfer to Europa Conference League 1–2 0–3 — 0–0
4   Panathinaikos 6 1 1 4 7 10 −3 4 2–0 1–2 1–2 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Rennes  3–0  Maccabi Haifa
 Report[126]
Attendance: 26,838[125]
Referee: Harm Osmers (Germany)
Attendance: 57,003[128]
Villarreal  1–0