Europa League League Phase draw: Olympiacos and OFI learn their opponents

The draw for the inaugural Europa League League Phase has been completed in Monaco, revealing the path for Greek clubs Olympiacos and OFI. Both teams will compete in the expanded 36-team format, marking a significant shift in the competition's structure.

Olympiacos, placed in the first seeding pot, and OFI, from the fourth pot, now know the eight opponents they will face in their respective campaigns. The draw ceremony, held at the Grimaldi Forum, set the stage for their European endeavors.

For Olympiacos, their League Phase opponents include AC Milan, Marseille, Sparta Prague, Rennes, Jagiellonia, Celje, Hoffenheim, and Torrense. OFI's opponents are Leverkusen, Marseille, Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Vojvodina, Besiktas, and Servette. The draw ensures a minimum of eight matches for each team, increasing the number of games played in the initial stage of the tournament.

This new League Phase format replaces the traditional group stage, aiming to provide more matches and greater variety in opponents. The structure involves a single league table, with teams playing eight different opponents – four at home and four away. The results will determine qualification for the knockout stages, adding a new layer of complexity and excitement to the Europa League.