There is another option , which if you finish 3rd in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage , in to the last 32 in the Europa League , or being eliminated from the Playoff Round in the UEFA Champions League ( The ousted team goes straight into the UEFA Europa League Group Stage ) , and the 3rd option is when a club which being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League 3rd round ( Into the UEFA Europa League Playoff Round ) The Europa League is a new version of the UEFA cup . The Europa League was started in 2009 . More recently , clubs that are knocked out of the qualifying round and the group stage of the Champions League can also join the UEFA Europa League , at different stages ( see below ) .