2015–16 UEFA Europa League#Format changes

The UEFA Executive Committee held in May and September 2013 approved the following changes to the UEFA Europa League starting from the 2015–16 season (for the three-year cycle until the 2017–18 season):{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=1956131.html|title=Added bonus for UEFA Europa League winners|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=24 May 2013}}

• The title holders of the UEFA Europa League will qualify for the UEFA Champions League, and therefore no Europa League berth will be reserved for them (although it is still possible for them to defend their title if they drop down to the Europa League after Champions League elimination).
• All associations will have a maximum of three teams entering the Europa League (excluding those transferred from the Champions League); previously associations 7–9 each had four entrants (the only exception is when both the Champions League title holders and the Europa League title holders are from the same top three ranked association and do not qualify for either the Champions League or Europa League through domestic competitions, and the fourth-placed team of their association enter the Europa League instead of the Champions League because a maximum of five teams from one association can enter the Champions League, meaning in this case, four teams from their association enter the Europa League).
• The number of teams directly qualifying for the group stage will be increased to 16 teams (from the top 12 associations); previously six teams (from the top six associations) directly qualified for the group stage.
• Should the domestic cup winners qualify for the Champions League, the cup runners-up will no longer be granted a spot in the Europa League, and the spot will be given to the highest-placed team in the league which have not yet qualified for European competitions.{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=2013-09-20 |title=Strategic talks in Dubrovnik |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d7eeaa71d98-7ddf54a81673-1000--strategic-talks-in-dubrovnik/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=UEFA |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=2014-08-29 |title=New approach broadens Europa League appeal {{!}} UEFA Europa League |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0257-0def7f60e195-fd6dc0500321-1000--new-approach-broadens-europa-league-appeal/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=UEFA |language=en}}

A total of 191 teams from all 54 UEFA member associations participated in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. The association ranking based on the UEFA country coefficients was used to determine the number of participating teams for each association:{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/23/69/59/2236959_DOWNLOAD.pdf|title=Regulations of the UEFA Europa League 2015/16 Season|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=1 May 2015}}

• Associations 1–51 (except Liechtenstein) each have three teams qualify.
• As the winners of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League, Sevilla qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League; the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League berth they would otherwise have earned for finishing 5th in the 2014–15 La Liga was vacated and not passed to another Spanish team.
• Associations 52–53 each have two teams qualify.
• Liechtenstein and Gibraltar each have one team qualify (Liechtenstein organises only a domestic cup and no domestic league; Gibraltar as per decision by the UEFA Executive Committee).{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=1999120.html|title=Strategic talks in Dubrovnik|publisher=UEFA.org|date=20 September 2013}}
• The top three associations of the 2014–15 UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking each gain an additional berth (the 2015–16 season will be the last where Fair Play berths are allocated to the Europa League).{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/social-responsibility/news/newsid=2210098.html|title=New Respect Fair Play reward criteria|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=16 February 2015}}
• Moreover, 33 teams eliminated from the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League are transferred to the Europa League.

For the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League, the associations were allocated places according to their 2014 UEFA country coefficients, which took into account their performance in European competitions from 2009–10 to 2013–14.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/season=2014/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612002949/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/season=2014/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2013|title=Country coefficients 2013/14|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/data/method4/crank2014.html|title=UEFA Country Ranking 2014|publisher=Bert Kassies}}

Apart from the allocation based on the country coefficients, associations may have additional teams participating in the Europa League, as noted below:

• {{small|(FP)}} – Additional berth via Fair Play ranking (Netherlands, England, Republic of Ireland){{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/social-responsibility/news/newsid=2244170.html|title=Netherlands, England, Ireland get Fair Play bonus|publisher=UEFA.org|date=8 May 2015|access-date=8 May 2015}}
• {{small|(CL)}} – Additional teams transferred from Champions League
• {{small|(EL)}} – Vacated berth due to Europa League title holders playing in Champions League

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In the default access list, Sevilla enter the group stage (as the fifth-placed team of the 2014–15 La Liga).{{cite web|url=http://kassiesa.net/uefafiles/2015-16-uefa-access-list.pdf|title=Preliminary Access List 2015/16|publisher=Bert Kassies}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2015/accesslist/nextseason/index.html |title=UEFA Europa League Access list 2015/2016 |website=UEFA.org |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429114946/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season%3D2015/accesslist/nextseason/index.html |archive-date=April 29, 2015 }} However, since they qualified for the Champions League as the Europa League title holders, the spot which they qualified for in the Europa League group stage is vacated, and the following changes to the default allocation system are made:{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/access2015.html |title=Access list 2015/2016 |publisher=Bert Kassies |access-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810160506/http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/access2015.html |archive-date=10 August 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2249541.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525001940/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2249541.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2015|title=Who is in Champions League and Europa League?|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=7 June 2015}}

• The domestic cup winners of association 13 (Switzerland) are promoted from the third qualifying round to the group stage.
• The domestic cup winners of association 18 (Cyprus) are promoted from the second qualifying round to the third qualifying round.
• The domestic cup winners of associations 24 (Sweden) and 25 (Bulgaria) are promoted from the first qualifying round to the second qualifying round.

A Europa League place is vacated when a team qualifies for both the Champions League and the Europa League, or qualifies for the Europa League by more than one method. When a place is vacated, it is redistributed within the national association by the following rules (regulations Articles 3.03 and 3.04):

• When the domestic cup winners (considered as the "highest-placed" qualifier within the national association with the latest starting round) also qualify for the Champions League, their Europa League place is vacated. As a result, the highest-placed team in the league which have not yet qualified for European competitions qualify for the Europa League, with the Europa League qualifiers which finish above them in the league moved up one "place" (the 2015–16 season will be the first with this particular arrangement where the domestic cup runners-up are no longer guaranteed a place in the Europa League in this scenario).
• When the domestic cup winners also qualify for the Europa League through league position, their place through the league position is vacated. As a result, the highest-placed team in the league which have not yet qualified for European competitions qualify for the Europa League, with the Europa League qualifiers which finish above them in the league moved up one "place" if possible.
• For associations where a Europa League place is reserved for the League Cup winners, they always qualify for the Europa League as the "lowest-placed" qualifier. If the League Cup winners have already qualified for European competitions through other methods, this reserved Europa League place is taken by the highest-placed team in the league which have not yet qualified for European competitions.
• A Fair Play place is taken by the highest-ranked team in the domestic Fair Play table which have not yet qualified for European competitions.

The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round:{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/accesslist/listofparticipants/index.html |title=2015/16 UEFA Europa League list of participants |website=UEFA.org |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=18 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128091000/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season%3D2016/accesslist/listofparticipants/index.html |archive-date=28 January 2016 }}{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/qual2015.html |title=Qualification for European Cup Football 2015/2016 |publisher=Bert Kassies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427003339/http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/qual2015.html |archive-date=2015-04-27 }}

• TH: Title holders
• CW: Cup winners
• 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, etc.: League position
• LC: League Cup winners
• PW: End-of-season Europa League play-off winners
• FP: Fair Play
• CL: Transferred from Champions League
• GS: Third-placed teams from group stage
• PO: Losers from play-off round
• Q3: Losers from third qualifying round

Notably two teams took part in the competition that were not playing in their national top-division. They were Go Ahead Eagles (2nd tier) and UCD (2nd tier).

;Notes

{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}

{{Cnote2|Note BUL|Bulgaria (BUL): Lokomotiv Sofia, the third-placed team of the 2014–15 A Group, would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence. As a result, the berth was given to Litex Lovech, the fourth-placed team of the league.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfunion.bg/news/5443|title=Съобщение на Лицензионната комисия|language=bg|trans-title=Communication from the licensing committee|publisher=Bulgarian Football Union|date=20 May 2015|access-date=1 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184325/http://www.bfunion.bg/news/5443|archive-date=2015-09-23|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/168683/Football+Union+Reportedly+Revokes+Licences+of+Bulgaria's+CSKA,+Lokomotiv+Sofia|title=Football Union Reportedly Revokes Licences of Bulgaria's CSKA, Lokomotiv Sofia |publisher=noinvite.com|date=20 May 2015|access-date=1 June 2015}} An appeal was denied on 1 June 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfunion.bg/news/5476|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602015536/http://www.bfunion.bg/news/5476|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2015|title=Апелативната комисия потвърди решенията на Лицензионната комисия|language=bg|trans-title=The appeals panel upheld the licensing committee|publisher=Bulgarian Football Union|date=1 June 2015|access-date=1 June 2015}}}}

{{Cnote2|Note ITA|Italy (ITA): Genoa, the sixth-placed team of the 2014–15 Serie A, would have qualified for the Europa League third qualifying round, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence. As a result, the berth was given to Sampdoria, the seventh-placed team of the league. Genoa withdrew their appeal on 3 June 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/15_giugno_03/genoa-niente-europa-league-ricorso-la-licenza-uefa-e82a4052-0a00-11e5-b7a5-703d42ecd92c.shtml|title=Genoa, niente Europa: ritirato il ricorso per la licenza Uefa|publisher=Corriere della Sera|date=3 June 2015}}}}

{{Cnote2|Note LVA|Latvia (LVA): Liepāja, the fourth-placed team of the 2014 Latvian Higher League, would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence as they were affiliated with the Latvian Football Federation for less than three years after reforming from the dissolved Liepājas Metalurgs. As a result, the berth was given to Spartaks Jūrmala, the sixth-placed team of the league, as Daugava Daugavpils, the fifth-placed team, also failed to obtain a UEFA licence.{{cite web|url=http://www.delfi.lv/sports/news/football/news/lff-apelacijas-komisija-atstaj-speka-aizliegumu-fk-liepaja-piedalities-eirokausos.d?id=46031553|title=LFF Apelācijas komisija atstāj spēkā aizliegumu FK 'Liepāja' piedalīties Eirokausos|publisher=Delfi Sports|date=28 May 2015}}}}

{{Cnote2|Note MDA|Moldova (MDA): Tiraspol, the fourth-placed team of the 2014–15 Moldovan National Division, would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round, but were dissolved at the end of the 2014–15 season.{{cite web|url=http://fc-tiraspol.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1654 |title=Коммюнике |publisher=FC Tiraspol |date=26 May 2015 |language=ru |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526132138/http://fc-tiraspol.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1654 |archive-date=2015-05-26 }} As a result, the berth was given to Saxan, the fifth-placed team of the league.{{cite web|url=http://newsmaker.md/rus/novosti/fk-saksan-zamenit-tiraspol-v-lige-evropy-13257|title=ФК "Саксан" заменит "Тирасполь" в Лиге Европы|publisher=Newsmaker|date=27 May 2015}}}}

{{Cnote2|Note ROU|Romania (ROU): CFR Cluj, the third-placed team of the 2014–15 Liga I, would have qualified for the Europa League second qualifying round, but were banned by UEFA after failing to settle overdue payables.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/ClubFinancialControl/02/23/00/51/2230051_DOWNLOAD.pdf|title=CFR 1907 Cluj – CFCB adjudicatory chamber decision – March 2015|publisher=UEFA.org|date=30 March 2015}} As a result, Astra Giurgiu, the fourth-placed team of the league, entered the second qualifying round instead of the first qualifying round, while the first qualifying round berth was given to Botoșani, the eighth-placed team of the league, as Petrolul Ploiești, Universitatea Craiova and Dinamo București, the fifth-, sixth- and seventh-placed teams of the league respectively, all failed to obtain UEFA licences.{{cite web|url=http://www.frf.ro/comunicate-frf/sanc%C8%9Biunile-dictate-de-comisia-de-licen%C8%9Biere-instan%C8%9Ba-de-fond-6581.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521033409/http://www.frf.ro/comunicate-frf/sanc%C8%9Biunile-dictate-de-comisia-de-licen%C8%9Biere-instan%C8%9Ba-de-fond-6581.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 May 2015|title=SANCȚIUNILE DICTATE DE COMISIA DE LICENȚIERE - INSTANȚA DE FOND|publisher=FEDERAȚIA ROMÂNĂ DE FOTBAL|date=18 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.monitorulbt.ro/Stiri/Sport/2015-05-26/FC+Botosani+cap+de+serie+in+turul+intai+preliminar+al+Ligii+Europa.html|title=FC Botoșani cap de serie în turul întâi preliminar al Ligii Europa|publisher=Monitorul de Botoșani|language=ro|access-date=31 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622203419/http://www.monitorulbt.ro/Stiri/Sport/2015-05-26/FC+Botosani+cap+de+serie+in+turul+intai+preliminar+al+Ligii+Europa.html|archive-date=2015-06-22|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Cnote2|Note RUS|Russia (RUS): Dynamo Moscow, the fourth-placed team of the 2014–15 Russian Premier League, would have qualified for the Europa League third qualifying round, but they were referred to the UEFA's Club Financial Control Body adjudicatory chamber on 24 April 2015 for violating the Financial Fair Play break-even requirements after the club was not able to reach the settlement with UEFA.{{cite web|publisher=UEFA|url=http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/newsid=2239253.html|title=FC Dinamo Moskva referred to Adjudicatory Chamber for break-even requirement breach|date=24 April 2015}} The meeting regarding the sanctions for the violation was held on 16 June 2015,{{cite web|publisher=Russian News Agency "TASS"|url=http://tass.ru/sport/2046082|script-title=ru:"Динамо" изложило УЕФА свою позицию по нарушениям правил финансового fair play|date=16 June 2015|language=ru}} and on 19 June 2015, it was announced that Dynamo Moscow were excluded from the UEFA Europa League for the 2015–16 season.{{cite web|publisher=Rossiya Segodnya|url=http://rsport.ru/football/20150619/840603225.html|script-title=ru:УЕФА отстранил "Динамо" от участия в ЛЕ-2015/16 за нарушение финансового fair play|date=19 June 2015|language=ru}} As a result, the berth was given to Rubin Kazan, the fifth-placed team of the league.}}

{{Cnote2 End}}

The schedule of the competition is as follows (all draws are held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, unless stated otherwise).{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0222-0e91167213bf-ad67c808ae10-1000--2015-16-europa-league-all-you-need-to-know/|title=2015/16 Europa League: All you need to know|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/calendar2015.html |title=UEFA European Football Calendar 2015/2016 |publisher=Bert Kassies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221150453/http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/calendar2015.html |archive-date=2014-12-21 }}

Matches in the qualifying, play-off, and knockout rounds may also be played on Tuesdays or Wednesdays instead of the regular Thursdays due to scheduling conflicts.

{{main|2015–16 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase}}

In the qualifying rounds and the play-off round, teams are divided into seeded and unseeded teams based on their 2015 UEFA club coefficients,{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club/season=2015/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716052833/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club/season=2015/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2014|title=Club coefficients 2014/15|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/data/method4/trank2015.html|title=UEFA Team Ranking 2015|publisher=Bert Kassies}}{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/seedel2015.html|title=Seeding in the Europa League 2015/2016|publisher=Bert Kassies|access-date=2015-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709145953/http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedel2015.html|archive-date=2015-07-09|url-status=dead}} and then drawn into two-legged home-and-away ties. Teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.

The draw for the first and second qualifying round was held on 22 June 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/draws/round=2000654/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150625011108/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/draws/round=2000654/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2015|title=Draws — First qualifying round|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=22 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/draws/round=2000655/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624005808/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/draws/round=2000655/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2015|title=Draws — Second qualifying round|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=22 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0222-0e9121f5de1c-d82d337928b9-1000--largest-draw-starts-new-europa-league-season/|title=Largest draw starts new UEFA Europa League season|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=22 June 2015|access-date=22 June 2015}} With 102 teams involved, it was UEFA's biggest ever tournament draw. The first legs were played on 30 June and 2 July, and the second legs were played on 7 and 9 July 2015.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase|firstroundmatch}}

The first legs were played on 16 July, and the second legs were played on 21 and 23 July 2015.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase|secondroundmatch}}

The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 17 July 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/draws/round=2000656/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707215737/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/draws/round=2000656/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2015|title=Draws — Third qualifying round|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=17 July 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0223-0e913f67d3b5-b6d1dc132e8a-1000--uefa-europa-league-third-qualifying-round-draw/|title=UEFA Europa League third qualifying round draw|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=17 July 2015|access-date=17 July 2015}} The first legs were played on 29 and 30 July, and the second legs were played on 6 August 2015.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase|thirdroundmatch}}

{{main|2015–16 UEFA Europa League play-off round}}

The draw for the play-off round was held on 7 August 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2016/2000657/|title=Draws — Play-off round|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=7 August 2015}}{{cite web|title=UEFA Europa League play-off draw results|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0224-0e915e30a742-ca86d3f43161-1000--uefa-europa-league-play-off-draw-results/|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=7 August 2015|access-date=7 August 2015}} The first legs were played on 20 August, and the second legs were played on 27 August 2015.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League play-off round|playoffmatch}}

{{main|2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage}}

{{Location map+ |Europe |width=650 |float=right |caption=Location of teams of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage.
8px Red: Group A; 8px Yellow: Group B; 8px Green: Group C; 8px Dark Green: Group D;
8px Purple: Group E; 8px Pink: Group F; 8px Blue: Group G; 8px Orange: Group H;
8px Brown: Group I; 8px Deep pink: Group J; 8px Cyan: Group K; 8px Spring green: Group L.|places=

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=39.944128|long=-0.103472|label_size=75|label=Villarreal|mark=Purple pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=43.256944|long=-2.923611|label_size=75|label=Athletic|mark=SpringGreen pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=51.603333|long=-0.065833|label_size=75|label=Tottenham|mark=DeepPink pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=53.430819|long=-2.960828|label_size=75|label=Liverpool|mark=Yellow pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=48.323131|long=10.885997|label_size=75|label=Augsburg|mark=SpringGreen pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=51.554503|long=7.067589|label_size=75|label=Schalke|mark=Cyan pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=51.516667|long=7.466667|label_size=75|label=Dortmund|mark=Green pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.933886|long=12.454786|label_size=75|label=Lazio|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=43.780792|long=11.282725|label_size=75|label=Fiorentina|mark=Brown pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=40.827924|long=14.192718|label_size=75|label=Napoli|mark=Dark Green 004040 pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=38.761194|long=-9.160783|label_size=75|label=Lisbon|mark=Black pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.56252|long=-8.429904|label_size=75|label=Braga|mark=Pink pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=38.761194|long=-9.160783|label=|mark=Black pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=43.727606|long=7.415614|label_size=75|label=Monaco|mark=DeepPink pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=43.269806|long=5.395922|label_size=75|label=Marseille|mark=Pink pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=45.460767|long=4.490117|label_size=75|label=St-Étienne|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=44.896944|long=-0.563333|label_size=75|label=Bordeaux|mark=Yellow pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=55.803611|long=37.741111|label_size=75|label=Lokomotiv|mark=Orange pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=45.025278|long=38.999444|label_size=75|label=Krasnodar|mark=Green pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=55.796944|long=49.098889|label_size=75|label=Rubin|mark=Yellow pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=52.630860|long=4.750430|label_size=75|label=AZ|mark=SpringGreen pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=52.314167|long=4.941944|label_size=75|label=Ajax|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=53.206111|long=6.591389|label_size=75|label=Groningen|mark=Pink pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=48.460333|long=35.032472|label_size=75|label=Dnipro|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=51.21667|long=3.233333|label_size=75|label=Brugge|mark=Dark Green 004040 pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=50.834194|long=4.298361|label_size=75|label=Anderlecht|mark=DeepPink pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.039206|long=28.994742|label_size=75|label=Istanbul|mark=Black pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.039206|long=28.994742|label=|mark=Black pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=40.6138|long=22.9724 |label_size=75|label=PAOK|mark=Green pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=37.516667|long=22.383333|label_size=75|label=Asteras|mark=Cyan pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=47.541575|long=7.620181|label_size=75|label=Basel|mark=Brown pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=46.233333|long=7.366667|label_size=75|label=Sion|mark=Yellow pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=48.207167|long=16.420528|label_size=75|label=Rapid|mark=Purple pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=49.7475|long=13.3775|label_size=75|label=Plzeň|mark=Purple pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=50.0997222|long=14.4155556|label_size=75|label=Sparta|mark=Cyan pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=50.716667|long=15.066667|label_size=75|label=Liberec|mark=Pink pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=35.114542|long=33.362864|label_size=75|label=APOEL|mark=Cyan pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=56.133333|long=8.983333|label_size=75|label=Midtjylland|mark=Dark Green 004040 pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=52.397222|long=16.858056|label_size=75|label=Lech|mark=Brown pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=52.233333|long=21.016667|label_size=75|label=Legia|mark=Dark Green 004040 pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=53.9|long=27.566667|label_size=75|label=Din. Minsk|mark=Purple pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=55.858|long=-4.259|label_size=75|label=Celtic|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=62.733333|long=7.147806|label_size=75|label=Molde|mark=Red pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=63.429722|long=10.393333|label_size=75|label=Rosenborg|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=44.788742|long=20.459086|label_size=75|label=Partizan|mark=SpringGreen pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=39.98|long=46.93|label_size=75|label=Qarabağ|mark=DeepPink pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=40.9852|long=47.8425|label_size=75|label=Gabala|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=40.616667|long=20.766667|label_size=75|label=Skënderbeu|mark=Orange pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png|marksize=1|lat=65|long=55|label_size=75|label=

{{nowrap|Lisbon teams}}

{{nowrap|8px Belenenses

8px Sporting CP}}

{{nowrap|Istanbul teams}}

{{nowrap|8px Beşiktaş

8px Fenerbahçe}}

|position=right}}

}}

The draw for the group stage was held in Monaco on 28 August 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2016/2000658/|title=Draws — Group stage|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=28 August 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0224-0e918bf3da78-33ce105200d4-1000--full-uefa-europa-league-group-stage-draw/|title=Full UEFA Europa League group stage draw|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=28 August 2015|access-date=28 August 2015}} The 48 teams were drawn into twelve groups of four, with the restriction that teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other. For the draw, the teams were seeded into four pots based on their 2015 UEFA club coefficients.

In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The group winners and runners-up advanced to the round of 32, where they were joined by the eight third-placed teams of the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage. The matchdays were 17 September, 1 October, 22 October, 5 November, 26 November, and 10 December 2015.

A total of 24 national associations were represented in the group stage. FC Augsburg, Belenenses, Gabala, Groningen, Midtjylland, Monaco, Sion and Skënderbeu made their debut appearances in the group stage (although Monaco have appeared in the UEFA Cup group stage). Skënderbeu Korçë were the first team from Albania to play in the group stage of any UEFA club competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0253-0d809c400adb-120f21252c39-1000--europa-league-group-stage-number-crunching/|title=Europa League group stage number crunching|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=28 August 2015}}

{{clear}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group A|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group B|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group C|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group D|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group E|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group F|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group G|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group H|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group I|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group J|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group K|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage|transcludesection=Group L|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{main|2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase}}

In the knockout phase, teams played against each other over two legs on a home-and-away basis, except for the one-match final. The mechanism of the draws for each round was as follows:

• In the draw for the round of 32, the twelve group winners and the four third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage with the better group records were seeded, and the twelve group runners-up and the other four third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage were unseeded. The seeded teams were drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg. Teams from the same group or the same association could not be drawn against each other.
• In the draws for the round of 16 onwards, there were no seedings, and teams from the same group or the same association could be drawn against each other.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|bracket}}

The draw for the round of 32 was held on 14 December 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2016/2000659/|title=Draws — Round of 32|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=14 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0228-0e92f9d04e6e-a6d7ee72ce4d-1000--uefa-europa-league-round-of-32-draw/|title=UEFA Europa League round of 32 draw|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=14 December 2015|access-date=14 December 2015}} The first legs were played on 16 and 18 February, and the second legs were played on 24 and 25 February 2016.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Rof32}}

The draw for the round of 16 was held on 26 February 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2016/2000660/ |title=Draws — Round of 16 |website=UEFA.org |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=26 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202092315/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season%3D2016/draws/round%3D2000660/index.html |archive-date=2 February 2016 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/022a-0e937de8c869-2fd2edc4f051-1000--europa-league-draw-liverpool-united-basel-sevilla/|title=Europa League draw: Liverpool-United, Basel-Sevilla|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=26 February 2016|access-date=26 February 2016}} The first legs were played on 10 March, and the second legs were played on 17 March 2016.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Rof16}}

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 18 March 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2016/2000661/ |title=Draws — Quarter-finals |website=UEFA.org |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=18 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510084620/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season%3D2016/draws/round%3D2000661/index.html |archive-date=10 May 2016 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/022b-0e93c16bba0c-b5fbe0fbfbcd-1000--uefa-europa-league-quarter-final-draw/|title=UEFA Europa League quarter-final draw|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=18 March 2016}} The first legs were played on 7 April, and the second legs were played on 14 April 2016.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|QF}}

The draw for the semi-finals was held on 15 April 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/2016/2000662/|title=Draws — Semi-finals|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=15 April 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/022c-0e940fd300e4-2deeb3c93dbf-1000--uefa-europa-league-semi-final-draw/|title=UEFA Europa League semi-final draw|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=15 April 2016}} The first legs were played on 28 April, and the second legs were played on 5 May 2016.

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|SF}}

{{#lst:2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|F}}

Statistics exclude qualifying rounds and play-off round.

{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/statistics/round=2000658/players/type=topscorers/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923072616/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/statistics/round=2000658/players/type=topscorers/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2016|title=Statistics — Tournament phase — Player statistics — Goals|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=18 May 2016}}}}

{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/statistics/round=2000658/players/type=assists/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918231331/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/statistics/round=2000658/players/type=assists/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2017|title=Statistics — Tournament phase — Player statistics — Assists|website=UEFA.org|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=18 May 2016}}}}

The UEFA technical study group selected the following 18 players as the squad of the tournament.{{cite web|title=UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/022d-0e946a347208-55be5902368b-1000--uefa-europa-league-squad-of-the-season/|publisher=UEFA|date=20 May 2016}}

• 2015–16 UEFA Champions League
• 2016 UEFA Super Cup

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150627141227/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/index.html 2015–16 UEFA Europa League]

{{UEFA Europa League seasons}}

{{2015–16 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{2015–16 European club competitions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uefa Europa League 2015-16}}

2

2015