2018–19 UEFA Europa League knockout phase facts for kids
The 2018–19 UEFA Europa League knockout phase was the exciting final part of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League football tournament. It started on February 12, 2019, and ended with the big final match on May 29, 2019. This final game was played at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, to decide who would be the champions. A total of 32 teams competed in this knockout stage, where losing even one match could mean being out of the competition!
For the first time ever in this tournament, the video assistant referee (VAR) system was used. This special technology helps referees make sure their decisions are correct, especially in important moments like the final match.
All times mentioned are CET or CEST, as listed by UEFA. Local times are sometimes different and are shown in parentheses.
Contents
Teams That Qualified for the Knockout Stage
The knockout phase included 32 teams. These teams earned their spots in two ways:
- 24 teams qualified by finishing first or second in their groups during the Europa League group stage.
- 8 teams joined from the Champions League group stage because they finished third in their groups.
Europa League Group Winners and Runners-Up
These teams played well in their initial groups to reach the knockout stage. The winners were 'seeded', meaning they had a slight advantage in the draw for the next round.
| Group | Winners (Seeded for Round of 32) |
Runners-up (Unseeded for Round of 32) |
|---|---|---|
| A |  Bayer Leverkusen |
 Zürich |
| B |  Red Bull Salzburg |
 Celtic |
| C |  Zenit Saint Petersburg |
 Slavia Prague |
| D |  Dinamo Zagreb |
 Fenerbahçe |
| E |  Arsenal |
 Sporting CP |
| F |  Real Betis |
 Olympiacos |
| G | Villarreal |
Rapid Wien |
| H | Eintracht Frankfurt |
 Lazio |
| I |  Genk |
 Malmö FF |
| J | Sevilla |
Krasnodar |
| K |  Dynamo Kyiv |
 Rennes |
| L | Chelsea |
 BATE Borisov |
Champions League Teams Joining the Europa League
Eight teams that finished third in their Champions League groups also joined the Europa League knockout stage. Some of these teams were seeded, and others were unseeded, based on their performance.
| Seed | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Seeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Napoli |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Seeded in round of 32 draw |
| 2 | H | Valencia |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | B | Inter Milan |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | E | Benfica |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | G | Viktoria Plzeň |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Unseeded in round of 32 draw |
| 6 | A | Club Brugge |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | F | Shakhtar Donetsk |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | D | Galatasaray |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Away goals scored; 5) Wins; 6) Away wins; 7) Disciplinary points; 8) Club coefficient (UCL Regulations Article 16.04).
How the Tournament Played Out
This bracket shows how teams progressed through the knockout stages, from the Round of 32 all the way to the Final. Each match-up had two games (legs), except for the final.
Round of 32: The First Knockout Stage
The draw for the Round of 32 happened on December 17, 2018. This was the first stage where 32 teams faced off. Each match-up involved two games, one at each team's home stadium.
The first games were played on February 12 and 14, and the second games were on February 20 and 21, 2019.
Round of 32 Match Summaries
| Team #1 | Agg. | Team #2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viktoria Plzeň |
2–4 | Dinamo Zagreb |
2–1 | 0–3 |
| Club Brugge |
2–5 | Red Bull Salzburg |
2–1 | 0–4 |
| Rapid Wien |
0–5 | Inter Milan |
0–1 | 0–4 |
| Slavia Prague |
4–1 | Genk |
0–0 | 4–1 |
| Krasnodar (a) |
1–1 | Bayer Leverkusen |
0–0 | 1–1 |
| Zürich |
1–5 | Napoli |
1–3 | 0–2 |
| Malmö FF |
1–5 | Chelsea |
1–2 | 0–3 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk |
3–6 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
2–2 | 1–4 |
| Celtic |
0–3 | Valencia |
0–2 | 0–1 |
| Rennes |
6–4 | Real Betis |
3–3 | 3–1 |
| Olympiacos |
2–3 | Dynamo Kyiv |
2–2 | 0–1 |
| Lazio |
0–3 | Sevilla |
0–1 | 0–2 |
| Fenerbahçe |
2–3 | Zenit Saint Petersburg |
1–0 | 1–3 |
| Sporting CP |
1–2 | Villarreal |
0–1 | 1–1 |
| BATE Borisov |
1–3 | Arsenal |
1–0 | 0–3 |
| Galatasaray |
1–2 | Benfica |
1–2 | 0–0 |
Round of 16: The Competition Heats Up
The draw for the Round of 16 took place on February 22, 2019. Only 16 teams remained, each hoping to move closer to the final.
The first games were played on March 7, and the second games were on March 14, 2019.
Round of 16 Match Summaries
| Team #1 | Agg. | Team #2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea |
8–0 | Dynamo Kyiv |
3–0 | 5–0 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt |
1–0 | Inter Milan |
0–0 | 1–0 |
| Dinamo Zagreb |
1–3 | Benfica |
1–0 | 0–3 (aet) |
| Napoli |
4–3 | Red Bull Salzburg |
3–0 | 1–3 |
| Valencia |
3–2 | Krasnodar |
2–1 | 1–1 |
| Sevilla |
5–6 | Slavia Prague |
2–2 | 3–4 (aet) |
| Rennes |
3–4 | Arsenal |
3–1 | 0–3 |
| Zenit Saint Petersburg |
2–5 | Villarreal |
1–3 | 1–2 |
Quarter-finals: The Elite Eight Battle It Out
The draw for the quarter-finals was held on March 15, 2019. Only eight teams were left, all fighting for a spot in the semi-finals.
The first games were played on April 11, and the second games were on April 18, 2019.
Quarter-finals Match Summaries
| Team #1 | Agg. | Team #2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal |
3–0 | Napoli |
2–0 | 1–0 |
| Villarreal |
1–5 | Valencia |
1–3 | 0–2 |
| Benfica |
4–4 (a) | Eintracht Frankfurt |
4–2 | 0–2 |
| Slavia Prague |
3–5 | Chelsea |
0–1 | 3–4 |
Semi-finals: Who Will Reach the Final?
The draw for the semi-finals happened right after the quarter-final draw on March 15, 2019. Only four teams remained, with two spots in the final up for grabs.
The first games were played on May 2, and the second games were on May 9, 2019.
Semi-finals Match Summaries
| Team #1 | Agg. | Team #2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal |
7–3 | Valencia |
3–1 | 4–2 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt |
2–2 (3–4 p) | Chelsea |
1–1 | 1–1 (aet) |
The Grand Final
The big final match was played on May 29, 2019, at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan. This single match decided the champion of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.
| 29 May 2019 21:00 |
Chelsea |
4–1 | Arsenal |
Olympic Stadium, Baku Attendance: 51,370 Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
|
