The draw for the Europa League and Conference League Round of 16 took place in Nyon. European media widely commented on the results of the ceremony, which paired, among others, Italian sides Bologna and Roma, and Spanish Betis with Greek Panathinaikos. Particular attention is drawn to the Lyon vs. Celta Vigo match, featuring Brazilian talent Endrick, and the Aston Villa vs. Lille clash, described as an early final of the competition.

Italian Derby in the Round of 16

Bologna will face Roma in a direct clash, forcing the elimination of one of the Italian clubs.

Aston Villa's Tough Path

The main favorite of the competition, led by Emery, drew demanding Lille from the French league.

Benítez's Return to Spain

The Panathinaikos vs. Betis match is a sentimental journey for coach Rafa Benítez.

During the ceremony at UEFA headquarters, the knockout bracket for the second and third tiers of European club competitions was decided. The clash that resonated most in sports media was the all-Italian encounter, where Bologna will face Roma. Bologna's Marco Di Vaio admitted the club would have preferred to avoid a domestic league rival, while sporting director Massara pointed out the negative impact such a draw has on the country's UEFA ranking. From a Spanish perspective, the draw is assessed as favorable. Betis Sevilla will play against Panathinaikos, which will mark the return of coach Rafa Benítez to a rivalry with Betis after nearly 21 years. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo faces the difficult task of eliminating Olympique Lyon, where the young Brazilian Endrick shines. Since the competition reform in 2009, the Europa League has become a prestigious path to the Champions League for the winner, significantly raising the sporting level of teams in the knockout phase.German clubs also learned their opponents: VfB Stuttgart, which miraculously defended its lead against Celtic, will face FC Porto, while Freiburg will test the form of Belgian side Genk. Media in France and England are focusing on the Aston Villa vs. Lille match. Argentina's national team goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, will return to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, which adds extra emotion due to his previous performances on French pitches. In the Polish context, the Polsat Sport portal announces a "Polish match," suggesting a direct clash of players from our national team in one of the drawn pairs. Swiss football is experiencing a crisis in the current cup season. The elimination of Lausanne-Sport meant the country lost its last representative in Europe, which dashes hopes of maintaining a high position in the federation's ranking.It is also worth noting Olivier Giroud's record achievement, who at the age of 39 became the oldest scorer in Europa League history, as highlighted by Le Figaro. In the Conference League, Mainz 05 will try its hand against the Czech team Sigma Olomouc. Experts predict that the favorite for the ultimate triumph in the Europa League remains Aston Villa led by Unai Emery, a specialist in these competitions, although their path to the final has become bumpy after drawing strong Lille. „Avremmo evitato volentieri la Roma” (We would have gladly avoided Roma) — Marco Di Vaio

Mentioned People

  • Rafa Benítez — Experienced coach currently leading Greek side Panathinaikos.
  • Olivier Giroud — French striker who became the oldest scorer in Europa League history.
  • Emi Martinez — Argentine goalkeeper for Aston Villa, returning to play a match in France.