Europa League Draw Is Made Today

Last updated : 09 August 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

Newcastle United have automatically qualified for the play-off round of the tournament.

This means they have by-passed the first three qualifying stages.

THE DRAW ITSELF ...

The play-off round is made up of the third qualifying round winners join the 15 losing sides from the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round and other teams who begin their European campaigns here.

Clubs are then divided into seven groups for the draw.

Within the groups there will be an equal number of seeded and unseeded teams – designated by the club rankings established at the beginning of the season.

For each group, balls containing the seeded sides are placed in one bowl and balls containing unseeded teams in another.

A ball from each bowl is taken, and then shuffled in a separate bowl before being selected.

Each fixture will have a home and away leg - the first club drawn plays the first leg at home.

As part of this process, teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.

The draw will take place at 13.30 CET in Nyon, Switzerland – 12.30 UK local time.