The pairings for the Europa League and Conference League round of 16 are now known. VfB Stuttgart will face FC Porto, while SC Freiburg will host KRC Genk. However, the event of the evening was Olivier Giroud's record, who, playing for Lille, became the oldest goalscorer in Europa League history. Meanwhile, Swiss side Lausanne-Sport bowed out of the competition after a defeat to Sigma Olomouc, meaning no Swiss teams remain in this year's cup competitions.

Giroud Becomes Europa League Record Holder

The Lille striker, at 39 years old, became the oldest goalscorer in the history of the competition, also scoring his 300th career club goal.

German Clubs Learn Their Opponents

VfB Stuttgart will play FC Porto, SC Freiburg will face KRC Genk, and FSV Mainz 05 will take on Sigma Olomouc.

End of the Swiss Dream

Lausanne-Sport's defeat means no Swiss clubs remain in the European cup competitions.

The conclusion of the European cup play-off phase brought resolutions that will define the spring continental battles. The draw for the Europa League round of 16 pairs generated the most excitement in German media. VfB Stuttgart, despite losing the return leg to Celtic Glasgow, managed to defend their first-leg advantage and advance to the next round. Their opponent in the fight for a quarter-final spot will be the decorated Portuguese side FC Porto. Meanwhile, SC Freiburg, whose young players are showing promise, will face Belgian KRC Genk. In the Conference League, German side FSV Mainz 05 will host Czech Sigma Olomouc, who earlier eliminated Lausanne-Sport. The Europa League, continuing the tradition of the UEFA Cup, remains the second most prestigious club competition in Europe, serving as a key source of revenue and coefficient points for Tier 2 clubs.The cup evening undoubtedly belonged to Olivier Giroud. The French striker for Lille OSC, by scoring a goal against Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, not only secured his team's advancement and eliminated Marko Arnautović's side but also wrote his name into the history books. At 39 years old, he became the oldest goalscorer in the history of the Europa League, simultaneously reaching the milestone of 300 career club goals. His performance was met with enthusiastic reception from experts, who highlight the remarkable longevity and professionalism of the 2018 World Cup winner. For Lille, having such a leader in the squad could prove crucial in the decisive phase of the tournament. Swiss fans have fewer reasons to celebrate. Lausanne-Sport fell to Czech side Sigma Olomouc after a dramatic match in which an equalizing goal for the hosts was disallowed. This defeat has symbolic significance – for the first time in many years, the spring cup phase will feature no representatives from the Swiss league. Media in the country describe this as a "bitter end" and warn of a decline in the importance of local football in the UEFA rankings. Meanwhile, mixed feelings prevail in the Stuttgart camp. Despite the advancement, striker Ermedin Demirović harshly criticized the VAR system after marginal offside decisions, demanding more tolerance to favor the spectacle. „C'est un grand honneur pour moi de pouvoir encore concourir à ce niveau et d'aider mon équipe.” (It is a great honor for me to still be able to compete at this level and help my team.) — Olivier Giroud

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