European football’s secondary club competition returns this week and you can follow all the key action from matchday three of the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League live 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 three, ITV4’s double bill of live Europa League games begins with Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova entertaining Tottenham Hotspur, followed by Swansea City’s home tie with Kuban Krasnodar.
Both Swansea and Tottenham have made bright starts to their campaigns and hope to remain on top of their respective groups.
Tottenham’s striker Jermain Defoe will be looking to add to his impressive tally of three goals in the competition.
Swansea will be favourites to see off Kuban Krasnador at the Liberty Stadium – the Russians are bottom of group A after losing to St Gallen and Valencia.
Gordon Strachan and Tony Pulis provide analysis in the studio alongside presenter Matt Smith.
Commentary comes from Sam Matterface and Clark Carlisle in Moldova, while Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend will be at the Liberty Stadium.
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 3 features arguably Wigan Athletic’s toughest Europa League encounter yet against Russian side Rubin Kazan.
Rubin made the quarter-finals of this competition last season, while Owen Coyle’s club are competing in Europe for the first time in their history.
The Russian side top Group D after scoring nine goals in the first two games.
Three other live matches will be shown across the BT Sport network on the night, featuring Real Betis, Lyon and PSV Eindhoven.
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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.