Europa League: Matchday 4 preview – Schedule and times
The Europa League League Phase continues with Matchday 4, which includes important clashes for both the top eight and the spots leading to the knockout playoffs.
The Europa League League Phase continues with Matchday 4, which includes important clashes for both the top eight and the spots leading to the knockout playoffs. Greek interest focuses on Olympiacos' and OFI's away missions.
The curtain rises on Wednesday (04/11) with Rennes – Olympiacos, while the remaining 17 matches will be played on Thursday (05/11).
Rennes – Olympiacos: For “four out of four”
Olympiacos is one of five teams that have a perfect record after the first three matchdays. The “red-whites” successively defeated Jagiellonia 2-1, Marseille 1-0, and Sparta Prague 1-0, resulting in them being in fifth place with nine points and a 4-1 goal difference.
Imanol Alguacil's team will be tested on Wednesday (04/11, 17:30) at “Roazhon Park” against Rennes. The French also remain undefeated, with one win and two draws, and are in 13th place with five points.
The match was moved one day earlier due to strike actions scheduled in France. With another positive result, Olympiacos will take a significant step towards its presence in the top eight, which offers direct qualification to the round of “16”.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva – OFI: A great opportunity for the Cretans
OFI faces Hapoel Be'er Sheva on Thursday evening (05/11, 22:00), in a match of particular importance for the standings.
The Cretans started the League Phase with a win over Hoffenheim, but two defeats followed and they are now in 26th place with three points and a 3-4 goal difference. On the previous matchday, they lost 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen.
Hapoel has collected only one point and is in 30th place, having scored one goal and conceded six. This is, therefore, one of OFI's most significant opportunities to return to European victories and approach or enter the zone of places 9-24.
The standout matches
Milan – Ferencváros is of particular interest. The Italians have started poorly and are in 24th place with three points, while Ferencváros has achieved a perfect record and is fourth.
Leaders Benfica host Lech Poznań, while second-placed Leverkusen face Marseille, who remain without a point. Bournemouth are looking for their fourth win in Prague against Sparta, while Juventus are tested away at AZ Alkmaar.
Also standing out from the schedule are Real Sociedad – Lyon, Crystal Palace – Hoffenheim, and Sunderland – Dinamo Zagreb.
Europa League Schedule – Matchday 4
Wednesday, November 4
- 17:30 Rennes – Olympiacos
Thursday, November 5 – 19:45
- Milan – Ferencváros
- Sparta Prague – Bournemouth
- Crystal Palace – Hoffenheim
- Lillestrøm – Viktoria Plzeň
- NEC Nijmegen – Omonia
- Levski Sofia – Jagiellonia
- Real Sociedad – Lyon
- Anderlecht – Salzburg
Thursday, November 5 – 22:00
- AZ Alkmaar – Juventus
- Leverkusen – Marseille
- Celtic – Beşiktaş
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva – OFI
- Celta Vigo – Union Saint-Gilloise
- Torreense – Ararat-Armenia
- Sturm Graz – Celje
- Benfica – Lech Poznań
- Sunderland – Dinamo Zagreb
The full schedule and the change of day for Rennes – Olympiacos have been confirmed by UEFA.
The battle for the top eight and the top 24
Benfica, Leverkusen, Bournemouth, Ferencváros, and Olympiacos share the top spot with nine points. They are followed by Union Saint-Gilloise, Juventus, and Beşiktaş with seven.
The first eight teams qualify directly for the “round of 16”, while those finishing from 9th to 24th place will play in the playoffs. Teams from 25th place downwards are eliminated, which makes OFI's match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva particularly important.
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