European football’s secondary club competition continues this week and you can follow all the key action from matchday 2 of the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League 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 two, ITV4 and ITV4 HD′s double bill of live Europa League games begins in Russia as Tottenham Hotspur make the long trip to play Anzhi Makhachkala.
Spurs come into this contest with a two-point lead in the group table following their comfortable 3-0 win over Tromso, as FC Anzhi could only draw 0-0 away to Moldova’s FC Sheriff Tiraspol.
Later at 8.05pm, Swansea City host Swiss side St Gallen, also exclusively live on ITV4.
The Swans play their first home tie in Europe this season after recording a terrific 3-0 victory away to Valencia in matchday one.
They face a side that also triumphed in their opening contest, beating Russia’s Kuban Krasnodar 2-0.
Matt Smith presents live coverage from the Liberty Stadium alongside studio guests Gus Poyet and Gordon Strachan.
Jon Champion and Clarke Carlisle commentate on Anzhi v Tottenham, before Sam Matterface and Andy Townsend take over for Swansea v St Gallen.
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 on matchday 2 features Wigan Athletic’s latest Europa League encounter.
The Latics make their home debut in the competition with Slovenian club NK Maribor the visitors to the DW Stadium for this historic occasion.
Three more live matches will be shown across the BT Sport network on the night, featuring esteemed European sides such as Lazio, Sevilla and Fiorentina.
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Thursday 3rd October
Anzhi Makhachkala v Tottenham Hotspur – Group K
Kick-off: 17:00 LIVE: 4.45pm-7.30pm ITV4
Sevilla v SC Freiburg – Group H
Kick-off: 18:00 LIVE: 5.30pm-8.00pm BT Sport 1
Trabzonspor v Lazio – Group J
Kick-off: 18:00 LIVE: 6.00pm-8.00pm ESPN
Swansea City v St Gallen – Group A
Kick-off: 20:05 LIVE: 7.30pm-10.30pm ITV4
Wigan Athletic v NK Maribor – Group D
Kick-off: 20:05 LIVE: 8.00pm-10.30pm BT Sport 1
Dnipro v Fiorentina – Group E
Kick-off: 20:05 LIVE: 8.00pm-10.00pm ESPN
Friday 4th October
UEFA Europa League Highlights
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.
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
