The draw for the knockout stages of European club competitions took place in Nyon, Switzerland. In the Europa League Round of 16, fans will witness thrilling clashes, highlighted by the matchups of Aston Villa against Lille and Lyon against Celta Vigo. Spanish side Real Betis will face Panathinaikos Athens, while German VfB Stuttgart will host FC Porto. The competition is heating up, offering unique managerial returns and the prospect of Polish player showdowns in Europe.

Highlight Europa League Pairings

Aston Villa will play Lille, and Olympique Lyon will face Celta Vigo in the most interesting Round of 16 ties.

Benítez's Return to Spain

The experienced manager will lead Panathinaikos against Betis, returning to the Benito Villamarín after over two decades.

Crystal Palace's Chance

The English club drew AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League, considered a favorable result for the debutant.

Olivier Giroud's Record

The French striker became the oldest goalscorer in the competition's history at 39 years old.

The draw ceremony for the Europa League Round of 16 Europa League produced matchups that promise exceptionally fierce competition in March 2026. One of the most media-focused storylines is the return of experienced coach Rafa Benítez to face Real Betis, coming almost 21 years after his successes in the Spanish league. Spanish media also enthusiastically received the draw pairing Celta Vigo with Olympique Lyon. The French club features the young world football star, Endrick, making this tie one of the most attractive for neutral viewers. Lyon's coach, Paulo Fonseca, openly admits that the Spanish team will be a tough opponent requiring full concentration from the first minute. From the perspective of the English Premier League, the draw is assessed as balanced, though logistically demanding. Aston Villa, considered one of the favorites for ultimate victory, drew French side Lille. This will be a key test for Unai Emery's squad, who must balance the fight for European silverware with competing for a high domestic league position. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest, under Vitor Pereira, will face Danish side FC Midtjylland. Coach Pereira faces the difficult task of maintaining squad balance between continental competition and England's intense schedule. The German perspective is also noteworthy – VfB Stuttgart will face decorated FC Porto, while Freiburg will compete against Belgian side Genk. For Bundesliga clubs, this is a chance for redemption after inconsistent form in the group stage. The Europa League Round of 16 format involves a knockout system, where advancement is decided by the aggregate score over two legs. Since the 2021/2022 season, UEFA has abolished the away goals rule, significantly impacting teams' strategies in return matches. In the shadow of the Europa League, the Europa Conference League pairings were also drawn. Debutants at this stage, Crystal Palace, drew Cypriot side AEK Larnaca, which was received with satisfaction in London, though without underestimating the opponent. Polish fans gained an extra reason to follow the competition thanks to the so-called "Polish match," where Polish internationals will face each other playing for their foreign clubs. Meanwhile, Swiss football is experiencing a difficult moment after the painful elimination of Lausanne-Sport, negatively impacting the national UEFA ranking. In the realm of statistics, Olivier Giroud is setting records, becoming the oldest scorer in Europa League history at age 39, underscoring his undiminished sporting class. „Ce sera difficile, le Celta est une équipe très forte.” (It will be difficult, Celta is a very strong team.) — Paulo Fonseca All first-leg matches of the Round of 16 will take place in the first half of March. The return legs are scheduled a week later, traditionally producing the eight best teams who will compete for the grand final. Pressure for results is immense, as winning the Europa League guarantees direct qualification to next season's Champions League, which for many participants is the shortest route to football's elite and significant financial inflows.

Mentioned People

  • Rafa Benítez — Manager of Panathinaikos Athens, playing against his former rival - Real Betis.
  • Paulo Fonseca — Manager of Olympique Lyon, commenting on the difficulty of drawing Celta Vigo.
  • Olivier Giroud — Striker who broke the age record for scoring in the Europa League.
  • Endrick — Young talent playing for Olympique Lyon.