UEFA Europa League is the second most important European clubs football competition. It started in 1971 as UEFA Cup and was rebranded since 2009-10 season when the competition format has changed.
The participating clubs get into competition on the basis of classification in their national leagues and cup competition.
In the competition history 26 different clubs have won the title of which 12, more than once. On the top list are Juventus. Internazionale and Liverpool with three titles awarded. But, since the competition changes, in 2009 there is no club consecutively winner.
The winner of the latest edition 2011 – 2012 is Atletico Madrid.
The season 2012 – 2013 of UEFA Europa League is the fourth in the new format whose final will be held on 15 May in Amsterdam – Netherlands at Amsterdam Arena.
As regard the semifinals, the first legs will be on 25 April and the second one on 2 May 2013.
Comparing with 2011 – 2012 season for the actual one were made changes regarding the access into competition for the cup winners of top – ranked associations and matches programming.
In 2012 – 2013, 193 teams of 53 UEFA associations participate in this competition.