As this week is the UEFA Europa League's exclusive week, the match day is split across Wednesday and Thursday. Nine matches took place on Wednesday, with another nine matches to be played on Thursday. This means more action on the pitch, but also in the sky, where most teams travel to their away matches.
26 September 2024
Fenerbahçe SK vs. Union Saint-Gilloise
18.45h (19.45h local time), Sükrü Saracoglu, Istanbul
The second part of the match week will be opened in Istanbul. Fenerbahçe will look to bounce back from the narrow defeat against Young Boys in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers while Union Saint-Gilloise are looking to make this their best international season ever. The Belgian team travels to Istanbul on a Brussels Airlines Airbus A319.
SN1165 BRU 1200-1620 SAW A319 OO-SSA (25/09/24)
SN1166 SAW 1445-1720 BRU A319 OO-SSS (27/09/24)
Malmö FF vs. Rangers FC
18.45h, Stadion, Malmö
While Malmö FF may be the reigning Swedish champions, the Champions League proper proved to be one step too far for them. Rangers tried to attempt and qualify for the Champions League too, via the league path. But just like for Malmö, the big competition was too big for them.
ENT547 GLA xxxx-1730 MMX B738 (25/09/24)
AS Roma vs. Athletic Bilbao
21.00h, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Two well experienced European clubs meet at the iconic Stadio Olimpico in Rome to start their quest for a ticket to the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao. That is correct - it may be a home final for the Athletic Club, if everything goes well throughout the season. AS Roma with their star strikers like Artem Dovbyk or Paulo Dybala will definitely not make life any easier for the Basque team however.
JQ1265 BIO 1045-1255 FCO B738 (25/09/24)
JQ1266 FCO 0115-0325 VIT B738 (27/09/24)
Olympique Lyonnais vs. Olympiacos
21.00h, Parc OL, Décines-Charpieu
One of Greece's finest teams makes the trip over from Athens to Lyon. Olympiacos finished the Greek Super League in third place in summer 2024 and therefore qualified for the Europa League. The bigger achievement for them however must have been winning the UEFA Europa Conference League in spring 2024, becoming the first Greek club team to bring home a European trophy.
AEE4080 ATH xxxx-1315 LYS A320 (25/09/24)
AEE4081 LYS 0115-xxxx ATH A320 (26/09/24)
Ajax Amsterdam vs. Besiktas JK
21.00h, Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
A lot of away support will be expected in Amsterdam. But with so many Turkish supporters leaving in the Netherlands and nearby Germany, expectations for charter flights were low from the beginning. The Besiktas team arrives at Amsterdam from Sabiha Gökçen on a Freebird Airlines Airbus A320.
FH1903 SAW xxxx-1710 AMS A320 (25/09/24)
FH1903 AMS 1200-xxxx SAW A320 (27/09/24)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Viktoria Plzen
21.00h, Waldstadion, Frankfurt
The journey from Plzen to Frankfurt may not be particularly long. But even for the bus-travel-hardened Czech people, an aircraft is better than a bus journey. Therefore, Viktoria Plzen decided to charter a Frost Air Saab 2000 for their quick trip to Germany.
FRO060 PRG 1155-xxxx FRA SB20 (25/09/24)
FRO061 FRA xxxx-1130 PRG SB20 (27/09/24)
SC Braga vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv
21.00h (20.00h local time), Estadio Municipal, Braga
In very difficult times back home, a trip to the West must feel like a liberation for the Maccabi Tel Aviv team and staff. Whether they can maintain concentration and dedication for European-level football remains to be seen however. SC Braga may not sound like the fanciest of oppositions. But they are a team that is not to be taken lightly in any competition.
LY5563 TLV 1415-xxxx OPO B738 (25/09/24)
LY5564 OPO xxxx-1650 TLV B738 (27/09/24)
