Like the Champions League, the Europa League and Conference League are undergoing significant changes this season, with both group stages expanding into 36-team leagues. Similar to the top tier, the top eight teams will advance directly, while those finishing between 9th and 24th will enter a play-off phase.
On Friday, the three Spanish clubs learned their group-stage opponents, with the full schedule to be released on Saturday. Athletic Club, returning to European competition for the first time since 2017-18 under Ernesto Valverde, will host Slavia Prague, AZ Alkmaar, PlzeViktorian, and Elfsborg, while facing Roma, Fenerbahce, Ludogorets, and Besiktas in challenging away fixtures.
