Honestly, the 2024/25 European football season felt like a fever dream for anyone trying to keep up with the table. If you were looking at the europa league standings 2024 and felt a bit lost, you weren't alone. UEFA basically tossed the old "groups of four" format out the window and replaced it with a massive, 36-team "League Phase" that kept us all guessing until the very last second in January 2025.
It was chaotic. It was loud. And for Tottenham fans, it was finally—finally—the end of the drought.
The Standings Shake-up: No More Safety Nets
Before this season, you knew the drill. Two teams go through, one drops to the Conference League, one goes home. Easy. But the europa league standings 2024 operated on a single, giant ladder. Basically, every goal mattered because goal difference was the only thing keeping teams like Lazio and Lyon apart in the upper echelon.
By the time the league phase wrapped up on January 30, 2025, the top eight had secured their golden tickets straight to the Round of 16. These weren't just the usual suspects.
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Who actually survived the League Phase?
Lazio looked possessed for most of the winter. They, along with Manchester United and Athletic Club, hovered near the top of the pile consistently. United, specifically under the mid-season shift to Ruben Amorim, turned a sluggish start into a tactical masterclass. But the real story was the middle of the pack.
The teams ranked 9th to 24th had to go through a "knockout play-off" round. Think of it as a high-stakes survival game. If you finished 25th or lower? You were out. No dropping down to the Conference League anymore. That safety net is gone. Teams like RFS from Latvia or even some bigger names that stumbled early found out the hard way that the new format is brutal.
Tottenham’s "Spursy" Curse Ends in Bilbao
If you told a Spurs fan in August 2024 that they’d be lifting a European trophy in May 2025, they’d probably have asked you to leave the pub. But Ange Postecoglou actually did it.
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The final was a massive all-English affair at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. Tottenham vs. Manchester United. It wasn't a 5-4 thriller. It was a gritty, 1-0 win where Cristian Romero—who was later named the tournament’s best player—basically built a brick wall in front of the goal.
- The Goal: A single strike that separated the two giants.
- The Defense: Spurs didn't just win; they controlled the tempo in a way we haven't seen from them in decades.
- The Result: Tottenham Hotspur, Europa League Champions 2025.
It’s weird to say, but they actually looked like the most balanced team in the competition. While Manchester United had the star power with Bruno Fernandes (who tied for top scorer with 7 goals), Tottenham had the cohesion.
The Numbers That Defined the Season
The stats from the europa league standings 2024 and the subsequent knockout rounds tell a story of high-octane attacking football. We saw an average of nearly 3 goals per match.
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- Top Scorers: It was a three-way tie at the top. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), and Kasper Høgh (Bodø/Glimt) all finished with 7 goals.
- Creative Hubs: Rayan Cherki at Lyon was a joke. He ended up with 8 assists and took home the Best Young Player award.
- The Irony: Bodø/Glimt, the Norwegian side everyone underestimates, actually had more balls recovered (672) and more saves (65) than almost anyone else in the league phase. They were a nightmare to play against in the cold.
Why the New Format Changed Everything
The biggest misconception about the 2024 standings was that you could "coast" after three wins. In the old format, 9 or 10 points usually saw you through. In the 2024/25 League Phase, teams were fighting for 15 or 16 points just to stay in that top eight bracket.
Because you played eight different opponents instead of the same three teams twice, there was no "easy group." You could be a mid-tier team like Viktoria Plzeň and suddenly find yourself facing two giants from Pot 1 back-to-back. It made the europa league standings 2024 incredibly volatile. One week you’re 5th; the next week a draw drops you to 14th.
What’s Next for the Europa League?
If you’re looking ahead, the bar has been set high. Tottenham has now punched their ticket to the Champions League, leaving a power vacuum for the 2025/26 season.
Actionable Insights for the 2025/26 Season:
- Watch the Coefficients: England and Italy are currently dominating the rankings. This means they'll continue to get high seedings, but don't sleep on the Czech or Turkish leagues—they are climbing fast.
- Follow the New Favorites: Early betting lines for the next cycle already have Aston Villa and Roma as the teams to beat.
- Understand the Calendar: Remember that the "January window" of matches is now a permanent fixture. The league phase doesn't end in December anymore, so squad depth during the winter period is the most important factor for any team wanting to top the standings.
The 2024 season proved that the Europa League isn't just a "secondary" tournament anymore. It’s a grueling, 189-match marathon that requires a different kind of tactical stamina. Whether you love or hate the new league format, it’s here to stay.