Europa League fixtures today - your guide to Thursday's games

  • Third round of Europa League group stage fixtures take place on Thursday
  • Brighton and Liverpool host Ajax and Toulouse respectively
  • West Ham and Rangers are both on their travels
Brighton opened their Europa League account with a point in Marseille
Brighton opened their Europa League account with a point in Marseille / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
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The Europa League returns to our screens for the third instalment of 2023/24 group stage action on Thursday evening.

The postponement of Villarreal's clash with Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa means there is one fewer game on the schedule this week, with four British clubs once again in action.

It was a positive week for Premier League clubs last time out, although Brighton in particular have work to do if they're to progress from a compact Group B.

Here's everything you need to know about Thursday's Europa League action.


Olympiacos vs West Ham - Group A

Nayef Aguerd
West Ham won in Freiburg last time out / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
  • Location: Piraeus, Greece
  • Stadium: Stádio Geórgios Karaïskákis
  • Date: Thursday 26 October
  • Kick-off Time: 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
  • Referee: Andris Treimanis (LVA)
  • VAR: Dennis Johan Higler (NED)

The Europa Conference League champions have been such impressive performers in Europe under David Moyes.

West Ham were Europa League semi-finalists two seasons ago and have now made an excellent start to this campaign. The Hammers are two from two in Group A after beating Freiburg away from home on Matchday 2.

However, another tricky away trip beckons off the back of a 4-1 beatdown at Aston Villa on Sunday. Olympiacos could do with snatching all three points after claiming just a point from their opening two games.


Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1, discovery+

United States

TUDN App, TUDN USA, TUDN.com, Paramount+, ViX

Canada

DAZN


Sparta Prague vs Rangers - Group C

FBL-EUR-C3-ARIS LIMASSOL-RANGERS
Rangers succumbed in Cyprus on Matchday 2 / JEWEL SAMAD/GettyImages
  • Location: Prague, Czechia
  • Stadium: epet ARENA
  • Date: Thursday 26 September
  • Kick-off Time: 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
  • Referee: Sascha Stegemann (GER)
  • VAR: Sören Storks (GER)

Matchday 2 was a disaster for Rangers as they were beaten by Aris Limassol in Cyprus. Having made such a good start to the group by beating Real Betis, the Scottish giants are now back to square one.

On a positive note, they will have a manager in charge for Thursday's fixture after Steve Davis oversaw their defeat to Limassol. Philippe Clement has been appointed as Michael Beale's successor.

Their Matchday 3 encounter is a tough one away at Sparta Prague. The Czechs opened their account with a win over Limassol before they were beaten in Betis, leaving all four teams with three points in Group C.


Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

discovery+ App, TNT Sports 3, discovery+

United States

Paramount+, ViX, CBS Sports Golazo

Canada

DAZN


Brighton vs Ajax - Group B

Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro levelled from the spot in Marseille / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
  • Location: Brighton, England
  • Stadium: Amex Stadium
  • Date: Thursday 26 October
  • Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
  • Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
  • VAR: Piotr Lasyk (POL)

Marseille, bouyed by the arrival of Gennaro Gattuso as manager, seemed intent on adding to Brighton's European misery on Matchday 2 when they raced into a 2-0 first half lead, but the Seagulls fought back after the restart and rescued a point.

Brighton will take a bundle of confidence from their showing in France, although they are winless in five games in all competitions.

Nevertheless, surely Roberto De Zerbi's side will have too much for this sorry Ajax side to handle? The Dutch giants parted ways with Maurice Steijn after yet another defeat at the weekend. Ajax have notched draws both of their group games but currently sit 17th in the Eredivisie having won just one of seven league encounters.


Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 2

United States

Paramount+, ViX

Canada

DAZN


Liverpool vs Toulouse - Group E

FBL-EUR-C3-LIVERPOOL-UNION SG
A rotated Liverpool side has so far got the job done in Europe / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages
  • Location: Liverpool, England
  • Stadium: Anfield
  • Date: Thursday 26 October
  • Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
  • Referee: Rade Obrenovič (SVN)
  • VAR: Christian Dingert (GER)

Jurgen Klopp has made use of his squad at the start of Liverpool's Europa League journey and will likely rely on his fringe players once again to get the job done on Thursday.

The Reds returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win in the Merseyside derby on Saturday and have so far recorded a perfect record in the group stage. LASK and Union Saint-Gilloise have both been beaten by the Premier League side.

Toulouse are next to enter the Anfield cauldron and have made a positive start to their European campaign having notched four points from a possible six. However, their Ligue 1 mediocrity so far this season suggests they won't be much of a test for Klopp's side.


Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+

United States

Paramount+, TUDN.com, TUDN USA, ViX, Univision NOW, UniMás, TUDN App

Canada

DAZN


Europa League Matchday 3 fixture list in full

Date / Kick-off time (BST)

Group

Fixture

24/10/23 / 17:45

A

Olympiacos vs West Ham

24/10/23 / 17:45

A

Backa Topola vs Freiburg

24/10/23 / 17:45

B

Marseille vs AEK Athens

24/10/23 / 17:45

C

Aris Limassol vs Real Betis

24/10/23 / 17:45

C

Sparta Prague vs Rangers

24/10/23 / 17:45

D

Rakow Czestochowa vs Sporting CP

24/10/23 / 17:45

D

Sturm Graz vs Atalanta

24/10/23 / 17:45

H

Molde vs BK Haecken

24/10/23 / 20:00

B

Brighton vs Ajax

24/10/23 / 20:00

E

Liverpool vs Toulouse

24/10/23 / 20:00

E

Union Saint-Gilloise vs LASK

24/10/23 / 20:00

F

Panathinaikos vs Rennes

24/10/23 / 20:00

G

FC Sheriff vs Servette

24/10/23 / 20:00

G

AS Roma vs Slavia Prague

24/10/23 / 20:00

H

Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag


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