European football’s secondary club competition is back and you can follow all the key action from the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League season on ITV4 and BT Sport.
Last season’s competition was won by Chelsea, the last club standing in a competition that featured 193 clubs from 53 nations.
The final was the 479th match of the tournament and Branislav Ivanovic’s dramatic injury time winner against Benfica, practically the last action of the entire competition, was the 1,270th goal scored.
This season, Tottenham Hotspur, Wigan Athletic and Swansea City are English football’s representation in the competition, which also features some of the biggest and well-known clubs in Europe.
ITV and new rights holders BT Sport will share live coverage of the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League season with up to six live games each matchday during the competition.
ITV4 will be the place to watch the majority of the top matches as ITV Sport has all first and second pick games during the group stage and the entire knockout phase.
Most of ITV’s live games will be shown on digital channel ITV4, with matches featuring British teams from the quarter final stages onwards to be screened on ITV in the new year.
ITV will also screen live and exclusive coverage of the 2014 UEFA Europa League final in Turin.
On matchday 1, ITV4’s double header of Europa League action begins at the Mestalla as Swansea City face a tough away trip to Valencia.
Swansea cruised through two rounds of qualification to reach the group stage, but face a much sterner test of their capabilities against 2004 UEFA Cup champions Valencia.
Later at 8.05pm, Spurs take on Tromso of Norway in a group they will expect to dominate, after triumphing 8-0 over Dinamo Tbilisi in the two-legged play-off round.
Matt Smith presents live coverage from White Hart Lane alongside Gus Poyet and Gordon Strachan.
Sam Matterface and Clarke Carlisle commentate on Swansea v Valencia, before Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend take over for Tottenham v Tromso.
BT Sport takes over from ESPN as pay-TV rights holders to the competition and will broadcast at least four live matches during the group phase across BT Sport 1 and ESPN, plus a selection of matches during the knockout stages.
Jake Humphrey presents BT Sport’s coverage, with commentary and analysis from Ian Darke, Darren Fletcher, Steve McManaman and David James.
Both broadcasters will screen a dedicated highlights package on Fridays during every matchweek.
BT Sport’s Europa League coverage kicks off with Wigan Athletic’s first tie in a European competition away at Zulte-Waregem of Belgium.
Four months after shocking Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Wigan are writing a new chapter in their club history as the Championship side embark on their first European campaign, led by new manager Owen Coyle.
Simon Green, Head of BT Sport, said: “Wigan, travelling from the bottom rung of the football league to become holders of the FA Cup over a relatively short period, and now competitors in the UEFA Europa League, is one of the inspiring football stories of recent years.”
Three more live matches will be shown across the BT Sport network on the night, including Lazio v Legia Warsaw.
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Thursday 19th September
Valencia v Swansea – Group A
Kick-off: 18:00 LIVE: 5.30pm-8.00pm ITV4
Zulte-Waregem v Wigan Athletic – Group D
Kick-off: 18:00 LIVE: 5.30pm-8.00pm BT Sport 1
Eintracht Frankfurt v Bordeaux – Group F
Kick-off: 18:00 LIVE: 6.00pm-8.00pm ESPN
Tottenham Hotspur v Tromso – Group K
Kick-off: 20:05 LIVE: 8.00pm-10.30pm ITV4
Lazio v Legia Warsaw – Group J
Kick-off: 20:05 LIVE: 8.00pm-10.30pm BT Sport 1
Real Betis v Lyon – Group I
Kick-off: 20:05 LIVE: 8.00pm-10.00pm ESPN
Friday 20th September
UEFA Europa League Highlights
7.30am-8.30am BT Sport 1 (rpt: 11.30am & 5.00pm)
6.00pm-7.00pm ITV4
ITV4′s live match coverage, as well additional video clips, interviews and analysis, is available to watch for free via the ITV football website – CLICK HERE
BT Sport subscribers can watch the channel’s live matches on BT Sport 1 and ESPN via its online streaming service at btsport.com or on the BT Sport app for mobile and tablet devices.
Keep up to date with all the latest UEFA Europa League reports, goal flashes and results by following ITV Football on Twitter (@itvfootball) and BT Sport’s feed (@BTSport).
Online streaming available to UK users only
