The Champions League matchday one has now been completed, and now attention shifts focus to European club football's second tier club competition, the Europa League. This season will be a lot more interesting as there are several big clubs featuring in it, including Arsenal and AC Milan taking part for the first time in their histories.
Arguably, the Gunners and the Rossoneri are the two clubs most people will be following the most closely, and the Europa League is not a competition either will be taking too lightly especially after seeing how Manchester United won it last term and used it as a way to gain entry back into the Champions League.
Here's all you need to know ahead of matchday one of the 2017/2018 Europa League, including the ten biggest games taking place on Thursday.
Arsenal vs Köln - Kick-off times: 15:05 EST/12:05 PST/20:05 BST/21:05 CET
Both Arsenal and Köln are making their debuts in the Europa League, albeit Arsenal will not be as thrilled to be featuring in the second-tier club competition. For starters, this is the first time under Arsene Wenger's tenure that the Gunners failed to make it into the top four and it is a rather frustrating return for the long-serving French tactician, who was unable to steer the club beyond a fifth-placed finish. That being said, Arsenal may want to look to Manchester United for inspiration. The Red Devils made the best of the Europa League last season and conquered Europe, and as a result are now back into the Champions League this season.
Arsenal's group stage campaign will begin at home at the Emirates, which seats up to 60.432 fans at max capacity. As for Köln, they finished in fifth in the Bundesliga last term and will certainly be excited at finally featuring in Europe, especially after being promoted from the 2.Bundesliga back in 2014.
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Austria Wien vs AC Milan - Kick-off times: 13:00 EST/10:00 PST/18:00 BST/19:00 CET
After several seasons out of Europe, AC Milan have finally made a return back to continental competition. It's not the Champions League, but Rossoneri fans certainly won't be complaining, especially considering that the Diavolo are a long ways from the team that once conquered Europe back in 2007.
Milan are making their first ever Europa League group stage apperance and have never won this trophy and having cruised through qualifiying, are hoping to go far in this competition. They've spent big in a quest to return to the pinnacle of Italian and European football, but come into this match with Austria Wien off the back of a heavy 4-1 defeat to Lazio this past weekend.
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Atalanta vs Everton - Kick-off times: 13:00 EST/10:00 PST/18:00 BST/19:00 CET
Atalanta are making a long awaited return to European action after over two decades. La Dea finished in a very impressive fourth spot under Gian Piero Gasperini's tenure last term and will be hoping to make a splash in Europe this term, but have seen quite a few of their core depart this summer. Meanwhile, Everton have seen star striker Wayne Rooney return after over a decade away. Will the Champions League winner - and Manchester United's all-time top goalscorer - be able to help Ronald Koeman's men go far in this tournament?
Détails du match, résultat et infos sur la première diffusion
Atalanta 3 - 0 Everton
septembre 14, 2017 1:00MAPEI Stadium - Città del Tricolore (Reggio nell'Emilia)Ce match est terminé. Voici les détails de la première diffusion du match en direct.
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Villarreal vs Astana - Kick-off times: 13:00 EST/10:00 PST/18:00 BST/19:00 CET
Astana will have to travel a whopping 5,500 km to face Villarreal - so that's logging some major air mileage! In addition, the two sides are not unfamiliar foes: they met during the 2014/2015 Europa League play-offs, and the Yellow Submarine won 7-0 on aggregate.
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Hoffenheim vs Sporting Braga - Kick-off times: 13:00 EST/10:00 PST/18:00 BST/19:00 CET
Julian Naglesmann's ambitious side qualified for their first ever Champions League, but it was not meant to be as they were outplayed by Liverpool. However, they are now in the Europa League and will have another chance to try their luck at European competition. They come into their clash against Portuguese outfit Sporting Braga having recorded an impressive 2-0 win over Bayern Munich at the weekend, which marks a second consecutive win over die Roten. It goes without saying they definitely will be fancying their chances against their upcoming opponents!
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Apollon vs Olympique Lyonnais - Kick-off times: 13:00 EST/10:00 PST/18:00 BST/19:00 CET
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Vitesse vs Lazio - Kick-off times: 15:05 EST/12:05 PST/20:05 BST/21:05 CET
Vitesse are another team that will be making their debut in the Europa League, and they kick off their group stage campaign by hosting Lazio at the 25.500-seater GelreDome on Thursday evening.
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Zulte-Waregem vs Nice - Kick-off times: 15:05 EST/12:05 PST/20:05 BST/21:05 CET
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Olympique Marseille vs Konyaspor - Kick-off times: 15:05 EST/12:05 PST/20:05 BST/21:05 CET
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Hertha BSC vs Athletic Club - Kick-off times: 15:05 EST/12:05 PST/20:05 BST/21:05 CET
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