UEFA Europa League 2025 Group Stage Schedule & Key Matches

The UEFA Europa League 2025 is about to begin with a new league-phase format (the group stage) and the league-phase featuring 36 teams from different leagues across Europe will provide exciting matches from the beginning. Fans will want to know the full Europa League 2025 group stage schedule and timing of key matches to look out for, and in Pakistan all matches will be streamed live on tapmad.

League-Phase Format at a Glance

Starting with the 2024/25 season, UEFA transitioned the Europa League to Swiss style league. It works like this: 

There are 36 teams in one big league table. Each club plays eight matches against others from all four pots (4 home, 4 away). The top 8 teams move on straight to the Round of 16. Clubs ranked 9-24 move on to a knockout play-off round to join them as well. Those finishing below 24th will be out of Europe altogether. 

This new format guarantees more large matches for fans in the early rounds and is far less predictable than the traditional groups.

Europa League 2025 Group Stage Schedule

The league-phase schedule runs across eight matchdays:

• Matchday 1: 24–25 September 2025
   
• Matchday 2: 2 October 2025
   
• Matchday 3: 23 October 2025
   
• Matchday 4: 6 November 2025
   
• Matchday 5: 27 November 2025
   
• Matchday 6: 11 December 2025
   
• Matchday 7: 22 January 2026
   
• Matchday 8: 29 January 2026

After this stage, the knockout play-offs commence in February 2026, leading to the Round of 16 in March. The tournament finishes with the final in Istanbul on 20 May 2026.

High-Profile Matches to Look Out For 

The new format means the group stages will play host to more marquee tie-ups than before. With projected pots and teams that will hopefully qualify that appear likely, below are some tie-ups for fans to pencil in their calendars: 

AC Milan vs Manchester United Two European strongholds, both wanting to feed the trophy cabinet, hopefully they can meet early in the league phase. Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma A repeat of their recent Europa League knockout clashes, and two contrasting tactical styles in the incredibly quick Leverkusen side managed by Xabi Alonso versus the meaty defensive discipline of Roma. Crystal Palace vs Real Betis. Crystal Palace, making their European debut, and matches like this embrace the stories of underdogs that make the Europa League unique. 

Marseille vs Benfica: two storied clubs with great fan bases, meaning passion and therefore intensity will be displayed on and off the pitch.

Union Saint-Gilloise vs Juventus: Belgian debutants playing host to Italian giants could well be one of these feel-good tie-ups in the league phase.

Why These Fixtures Stand Out

• Clash of Giants: Unlike before, big clubs can meet earlier in the competition.
   
• Emerging Talents: Rising stars from smaller teams get a chance to test themselves against elite opposition.
   
• Global Appeal: Fans across continents now have more marquee games to follow, increasing the competition’s worldwide footprint.

Broadcast & Streaming Info

The Europa League’s popularity ensures broad coverage across the globe:

• UK & Ireland: TNT Sports & Discovery+
   
• USA: CBS Sports & Paramount+
   
• Europe: DAZN, Movistar+, Canal+ (varies by country)
   
• MENA: beIN SPORTS
   
• India: Sony Sports Network & JioCinema
   
• Pakistan: For local fans, tapmad is the destination to watch every Europa League 2025 group stage match live, from early fixtures to key clashes.

Conclusion

The UEFA Europa League 2025 group stage calendar will give us months of terrific football with eight matchdays featuring heavyweights and dreamers. The new Swiss-type format injects unpredictability and gives us even more can't-miss football starting in early September. The road to Istanbul starts now and fans in Pakistan can catch every fixture live on tapmad and be sure not to miss a second from Europe's most competitive football stage.