City's Europa League Campaign Edges Ever Closer

Manchester City's entry into the 2010/11 Europa League competition edges ever closer.

Europa League

There are three qualifying rounds and a play-off round before the group stage, which consists of 12 groups of four teams who play each other home and away in autumn 2010. The knockout stage follows in spring 2011, with the final taking place at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on 18 May 2011.



Manchester City

Roberto Mancini's boys enter the tournament at the play-off stage, alongside British sides Aston Villa and Dundee United. To qualify into the Europa League proper teams have to win the two-leg play-off, which take place on 19 August and 26 August respectively.

The competition is currently at the Second qualifying round stage and then on 29 July teams such as Scottish Premier League outfit Hibernian and struggling Liverpool enter the Third qualifying round. The final qualifying round games take place on 5 August.

Play-Off

MCFC enter...

The play-offs begin on Thursday 19 August with the second leg due to take place seven days later.

Group Stage

The group stages run from 16 September through until 15-16 December.

Knockout Phase

The knockout phase begins in February, quarter-finals April, semi-finals are also in April and May with the final taking place at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on 18 May 2011.

Europa League football this year and perhaps Champions League football season 2011/12. Who knows?

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