05.09.2013. The Europa League draw saw English representatives, Wigan Athletic drawn against Rubin Kazan of Russia, NK Maribor of Slovenia and Zulte-Waregem of Belgium. It is the first time in the history of the football club that they have qualified for European competition having overcome the odds to win the FA Cup back in May.
Europa League – Group Stage: Group D
Having won the FA Cup in 2013, one of the major benefits for Wigan Athletic was automatic qualification into the group stage of the Europa League. It is the first time in the clubs 81 year history that they will compete outside of domestic competition seeing them travel to various destinations throughout Europe. The club are the only side in this year’s competition to compete in the second tier of their respective leagues due to their relegation from the Premier League last season, just 3 days after their cup success. To Wigan’s fans the clubs recent achievements have been the pinnacle of Wigan Athletic‘s rapid rise through the English leagues in the last 2 decades.
Wigan vs Zulte – Waregem
The first of Wigan’s Europa League opponents are Belgium side Zulte-Waregem. It will be the first time the two sides have met due to it being Wigan first time in European competition. Zulte-Waregem were formed in 2001 from a partnership between Zultse VV and KSV Waregem. In that time the clubs highest finish in domestic competition was 2nd in 2012-13 they have also won one Belgian cup, which lead to them qualifying for the UEFA Cup in 2006-07. When last in the competition, they were knocked out by Newcastle United in the round of 32.
Wigan vs NK Maribor
NK Maribor of Slovenia were also drawn alongside Wigan Athletic in group D. Maribor are the most successful side in Slovenia having won 11 league titles and 8 Slovenian cups. They are also the only Slovenian side to have competed in the group stage of both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. It will be the third successive season that NK Maribor have competed in the Europa League group stages. In 2011/12 they managed to gain only 1 point from 6 matches and last season they managed to amass 4 points.
Wigan vs Rubin Kazan
The furthest of Wigan’s trips sees them travel over to Russia to face Rubin Kazan. The Russian side have been a regular in European competition in recent seasons, whether that be in the Champions League or the Europa League. Kazan’s best performance in the Europa League came in the 2012/13 season where they were knocked out by eventual winners Chelsea FC at the Quarter final stage after a 5-4 aggregate defeat. Along their way to reaching the Quarter finals, Rubin Kazan had overcome the challenge of Atletico Madrid and Levante.
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from £Wigan Athletic tickets for home games
Tickets for all Wigan Athletic games at the DW Stadium are now available. GigaSport will inform you about any new tickets updates and news.
Wigan tickets for away games
Fans are not yet able to submit tickets requests for the games at Zulte-Waregem, NK Maribor and Rubin Kazan. However, fans will be able to secure Wigan tickets through the club and various fan clubs.
