The Europa League is entering its hot phase. Two German teams are still represented. Well-known opponents are waiting for them – because the draw for the round of 16 is unusual.
The German Europa League clubs will soon see their group opponents again. Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen will face Qarabağ Ağdam in the round of 16. SC Freiburg, on the other hand, will face West Ham United again in the round of 16. This was the result of the draw on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland.
Leverkusen will travel to Azerbaijan for the first leg on March 7th, and a week later the Werkself will have home advantage in the second leg (March 14th). Freiburg first welcomes West Ham at home and has to go back to London for the second duel. For team manager Jürgen Klopp, in his last season at Liverpool FC, he will face Sparta Prague in the round of 16. The final will take place on May 22nd in the Irish capital Dublin.
Leverkusen was the only team in the competition to have won all six games in the group stage, including the two against Qarabağ Ağdam (1-0 and 5-1).
Freiburg, on the other hand, lost its games against West Ham (0:2 and 1:2). On Thursday evening, coach Christian Streich’s team was able to beat RC Lens 3-2 after extra time in the second round after a show of strength and a spectacular comeback.
+ The draw can be read in the ticker +
12:24 p.m. – This ends the draw in Nyon.
12:21 p.m. – This means that Bayer Leverkusen will face Qarabağ Ağdam from Azerbaijan. And the same as with Freiburg – West Ham: The Werkself had already played against the club in the group phase.
12:20 p.m. – The next pairing: AC Milan meets Slavia Prague.
12:19 p.m. – Sporting Lisbon and Atalanta Bergamo are fighting for a place in the quarter-finals.
12:18 p.m. – That’s a pound: Christian Streich’s team meets West Ham United. Yet again. This arrangement already existed in the group phase.
12:18 p.m. – Now it’s up to the German fans: It’s SC Freiburg’s turn.
12:17 p.m. – Interesting pairing: The Portuguese have to compete with Glasgow Rangers.
12:17 p.m. – O’Shea draws Benfica next.
12:16 p.m. – The Giallorossi have to play against Brighton & Hove with the German international Pascal Groß.
12:16 p.m. – Now AS Roma will be drawn. Who are the Italians playing against?
12:15 p.m. – Olympique Marseille is the next team to be drawn.
12:13 p.m. – The Czechs are immediately drawn with one of the toughest opponents: Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. A more than feasible draw for the “Reds”.
12:13 p.m. – It’s starting. O’Shea draws Sparta Prague first.
12:08 p.m. – Ireland’s former international John O’Shea is the ticket representative for the final venue, Dublin. The 43-year-old looks back on a long and successful career with Manchester United. Pinto and Marchetti are now asking him about the Europa League – a competition in which he has never played…
12:05 p.m. – The inevitable UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti is also introduced. As always, he will be in charge of the draw.
12:00 o’clock – Moderator Pedro Pinto welcomes the draw in Nyon. Present in the hall are representatives of all 16 teams remaining in the competition.
11:55 a.m. – The Europa League anthem is always a very special, er, pleasure…
11:40 a.m. – These opponents threaten Bayer Leverkusen: Benfica, Sporting (both Portugal), AS Roma, AC Milan (both Italy), Qarabağ Ağdam (Azerbaijan), Sparta Prague (Czech Republic), Olympique Marseille (France), SC Freiburg (Germany).
11:37 a.m. – These opponents threaten SC Freiburg: West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, FC Liverpool (all England), Glasgow Rangers (Scotland), Atalanta (Italy), FC Villarreal (Spain), Slavia Prague (Czech Republic), Bayer Leverkusen (Germany). ).
11:30 a.m. – Welcome to the live ticker for the draw for the round of 16 games in the Europa League! It starts in around 30 minutes.