Following the conclusion of the knockout playoff rounds, the draws for the Europa League Round of 16 were completed earlier today at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Eight group winners and eight teams that qualified through the knockout round play-offs were drawn against each other in pots one and two, respectively, by draw assistant Zoltan Gera and UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti.
Round of 16 🤩
Most exciting tie?#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/YJLGm1er6J
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 24, 2023
English giants Manchester United, who defeated Barcelona last night at Old Trafford, will face another Spanish side in Real Betis. The Red Devils have previously faced Los Verdiblancos just once, with Betis edging them by a lone goal in a friendly match during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Erik’s Reds will face Real Betis in the #UEL last 16… 🇪🇸#MUFC || #UELdraw
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 24, 2023
For the second time in the Europa League, Premier League leaders Arsenal have been drawn against Portuguese side, Sporting Lisbon.
The two teams last faced off in the 2018-19 group stages, playing out a goalless draw in Lisbon before the Gunners sealed a 1-0 win at the Emirates thanks to Danny Welbeck’s effort.
We will face @scfreiburg in the @EuropaLeague Round of 16 ⚪⚫⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ceafqAZDEV
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) February 24, 2023
Italian heavyweights and three-time winners Juventus will welcome Freiburg to the Allianz Stadium, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma are up against Real Sociedad. The 60-year-old manager is unbeaten against the Basques, with five wins and a draw in six games while he was Real Madrid’s head coach.
Six-time winners Sevilla will lock horns with Fenerbahce, while Bayer Leverkusen, UEFA Cup winners in 1988 are drawn against Ferencváros, with the Hungarian side hoping to be in the finals which is to be held on their home soil.
Lastly, 2009 UEL winners Shakhtar Donetsk will do battle with Feyenoord, who have lifted the trophy twice, most recently in 2002, and Union Berlin and Union SG, who have met twice already in the competition this season, will face each other once again.
The first leg of the round will be played on Thursday, March 9, while the second leg will come a week late on March 16.
GROUP WINNERS:
Arsenal (England), Real Betis (Spain), Fenerbahçe (Turkey), Ferencváros (Hungary), Feyenoord (Netherlands), Freiburg (Germany), Real Sociedad (Spain), Union saint-gilloise (Belgium)
KNOCKOUT ROUND PLAYOFF WINNERS:
Union Berlin (Germany), Manchester United (England), Juventus (Italy), Leverkusen (Germany), Roma (Italy), Sevilla (Spain), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
