The draw for the round of 16 of the Europa League and Conference League took place in Nyon. In the Europa League round of 16 draw, attention is drawn to clashes such as Lyon vs. Celta Vigo or Aston Villa vs. Lille, which are crucial for the UEFA country coefficient. Spanish side Betis will face Panathinaikos led by Rafa Benítez, while Aston Villa will host Lille. Polish fans are eagerly awaiting clashes involving national team players representing foreign clubs.

Italian Derby in the Cups

Bologna and Roma will face off in a direct clash, which will weaken Italy's chances for points in the UEFA coefficient.

Spanish Challenges

Betis will play against Panathinaikos, and Celta Vigo will host Olympique Lyon in the fight for the quarter-finals.

Favorites from England

Aston Villa draws demanding Lille, being one of the main contenders for victory in the entire tournament.

Key decisions regarding the future of the Europa League and Conference League competitions were made at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. This year's draw for the knockout stage produced several fascinating matchups that have dominated sports headlines across Europe. The most attention is drawn to an internal clash of Italian teams, where Bologna will face AS Roma. Directors of both clubs did not hide their disappointment with this turn of events, pointing to the negative impact of this duel on the country's UEFA coefficient, which determines the number of spots in future editions of the Champions League. The Europa League was born in 2009 as the successor to the UEFA Cup, whose history dates back to 1971. Since then, this competition has become a prestigious chance for the final winner to gain direct entry into the Champions League.In Spanish football, the return of Rafael Benítez to competition with Spanish clubs on the international stage is generating significant excitement. His Panathinaikos Athens will cross swords with Real Betis Sevilla. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo will face the difficult task of eliminating Olympique Lyon, led by Paulo Fonseca, who is counting on his young talents in the fight for the quarter-finals. Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca directly described the draw as demanding, emphasizing the ambitions of the Spanish team. The fate of British teams also looks interesting. Aston Villa, considered by many experts to be a favorite for the ultimate triumph, will face French side Lille. Nottingham Forest awaits a clash with Danish FC Midtjylland, which presents manager Vitor Pereira with the challenge of balancing the fight for survival in the Premier League with European ambitions. In the Conference League, German Mainz 05 will play against Olomouc, and Crystal Palace, after a series of internal tensions at the club, will travel to Cyprus to play against AEK Larnaca. „Avremmo evitado volentieri la Roma” (We would have gladly avoided Roma) — Marco Di Vaio From a Polish perspective, the draw is particularly significant due to the potential for a "Polish match." Several round of 16 pairings create a chance for a direct clash of Polish national team players, which always heats up the atmosphere in the country. Fans are hoping for good form from our internationals playing for clubs like Roma or Aston Villa, which have realistic chances of reaching the final scheduled for May.

Mentioned People

  • Rafael Benítez — Manager of Panathinaikos, formerly manager of Liverpool and Real Madrid, among others.
  • Vitor Pereira — Manager of Nottingham Forest facing the challenge of squad rotation.
  • Marco Di Vaio — Sporting director of Bologna, commenting on the draw of the Italian pair.