Real Betis, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad find out opponents in Conference and Europa League | OneFootball

Like the Champions League, the Europa League and Conference League are receiving major surgery this season, with both group phases transforming into 36-team leagues. As is the case in the top tier, the top eight will go through, while teams 9 through 24 will go into a play-off phase.

On Friday, the three Spanish teams found out their opponents, with the schedule to be announced on Saturday. Athletic Club are making their first appearance in Europe since 2017-18, then too under Ernesto Valverde. They will play Slavia Prague, AZ Alkmaar, Viktoria Plzden and Elfsborg at home, traveling to Roma, Fenerbahce, Ludogorets and Besiktas away, in a tricky draw outside of Bilbao.

Meanwhile Real Sociedad welcome Ajax, PAOK, Dynamo Kiev and Anderlecht to the Reale Arena. The Txuri-Urdin, who are in their sixth straight season in Europe, will go also go to Rome and Plzen, facing Lazio, Vikoria Plzen, Nice and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

In the Europa Conference League, Real Betis beat Kryvbas comfortably in the play-off to reach the league phase. It is just six sides that teams will play off against in the third tier though, with the Benito Villamarin hosting Copenhagen, HJK Helsinki and NK Celje. Away from home, Manuel Pellegrini’s men will take on Legia Warsaw, Mlada Boleslav and FC Petroclub.