Matches of the first round of the general stage of the UEFA Europa League will be held on 16 and 17 September

Wednesday and Thursday will be full of football matches of the highest level, as the general stage of the Europa League starts. It's reported by sb.by.

Today, on September 16, Ararat-Armenia – Sparta (Prague, Czech Republic), Omonia (Cyprus) – Celta (Spain), Anderlecht (Belgium) – Lyon (France), Bayer (Germany) – Target (Slovenia), Milan (Italy) – Benfica (Portugal), Olympiacos (Greece) – Lyon (France), Zapoland (Azra) – Khorpoland (Israel), Milan (Shland) – Zapoland (Shland) (Shland). And tomorrow, on September 17, the program of the first round of the general stage will close with the games of Levski (Bulgaria) - Salzburg (Austria), OFI (Greece) - Hoffenheim (Germany), Besiktas (Turkey) - Marseille (France), Victoria (Czech Republic) - Union (Belgium), Crystal Palace (England) - Lech (Poland), Lillestrem (Norway) - Irgia (Irgia), Irgia (Nornespoland) - Szraziland (Nornespatia), "Irhland"Spatia" (Irgia) - "(Irgia (Nornespatia), "Irzego) - Szland" (Irgia (Irgia (Nornespatia).

How will Sunderland's first European Cup match since 1973 turn out? Will Juventus confirm the status of one of the favorites of the tournament in the competition with Nijmegen? How will the ambitious Bayer, Marseille, Lyon, Crystal Palace, Celtic and Real Sociedad begin? Is not lost in the elite company representing Segunda "Torrence"? There are many intriguing questions related to the upcoming matches. There will be many points of attraction. However, it is quite easy to allocate a central meeting. It will take place in Milan, where the local eponymous team will host Benfica. Both squads are on the shortlist of the main contenders to win the second-ranked European Cup and, of course, will try very hard to start the stage with a victory. Additional subtext of the battle of the Italian and Portuguese grandees is given by the fact that the head coach of the Rossoneri is Ruben Amorim, who at one time as a player for many years played as part of the team from Lisbon.

At the overall stage, each of the 36 teams will play eight different opponents (four times at home and away). The eight best squads will directly qualify for the 1/8 finals of the tournament, and the clubs who finish in places from the 9th to the 24th will have the opportunity to compete for the exit there in play-offs. Then there will be fights 1/8 finals, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

Last season, the victory in the second-ranked European Cup was celebrated by the English “Aston Villa”, which in the final defeated the German “Freiburg” – 3: 0. The most decorated team in the history of this tournament is Spain’s Sevilla, who have won the UEFA Cup/Europe League seven times. Benfica re-beat Aarhus in crucial Europa League qualifying round