The Europa League enters its most exciting phase almost here with the last 16.
The Premier League contingent could be four with Arsenal in a tough duel against Benfica and Leicester against Slavia Prague.
The Rangers continue to impress under Steven Gerrard and will have high hopes of ousting Royal Antwerp, while Ajax, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen are some of the continent’s biggest hoping for promotion.
The competition was a relief for Jose Mourinho, who watched enthusiastically as Dele Alli finally showed what he was capable of and the Spurs boss who won the competition twice (with Porto in 2003 and with Manchester United in the year 2017), described how the Europa League caused him “wonderful problems”: “These are the headaches that I love. The headaches you don’t like are the headaches of choosing. Lots of people don’t perform. Many doubts for negative reasons.
“Those are the wonderful problems. But to play on Sunday and play in Fulham on Thursday and against Palace on Sunday and play in the Europa League again on Thursday, that’s what I need. The players they need to understand this concept of the team and the intensity of the games. And when you have them all ready or playing at this level, the best that can happen to the team is the best. “
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Here’s everything you need to know about the last 16 draw:
When and where does the draw take place?
The draw will be held on Friday, February 26th at 12:00 GMT at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
You can follow the draw on Uefa’s website which is streamed here, or on BT Sport 2, coverage will start at 11am GMT. While Independent Sport brings you a live blog to keep track of all updates and reactions.
How will the draw work?
Unlike previous Europa League and Champions League draws this season, there will be no seeding, meaning teams from the same country could potentially face each other. However, possible restrictions will be announced prior to the draw.
Which teams are involved?
- Tottenham (ENG)
- Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) / Club Brugge (BEL)
- Real Sociedad (ESP) / Manchester United (ENG)
- Benfica (POR) / Arsenal (ENG)
- Red Star (SRB) / AC Milan (ITA)
- Antwerp (BEL) / Rangers (SCO)
- Slavia Prague (CZE) / Leicester (ENG)
- Salzburg (AUT) / Villarreal (ESP)
- Braga (POR) / Roma (ITA)
- Krasnodar (RUS) / Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
- Boys (SUI) / Leverkusen (GER)
- Molde (NOR) / Hoffenheim (GER)
- Granada (ESP) / Naples (ITA)
- Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) / Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
- LOSC Lille (FRA) / Ajax (NED)
- Olympiacos (GRE) / PSV Eindhoven (NED)
When will the last 16 games take place and when will the quarter-finals and semi-finals take place?
The last 16 first legs are scheduled for Thursday March 11, while the second legs are scheduled for Thursday March 18.
Kick-off times will be split between 17:55 GMT and 20:00 GMT. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled for March 19th.
Key data
March 11th and 18th: Round of 16
April 8th and 15th: Quarter finals
April 29th and May 6th 6: Semifinals
May 26: Final (Gdansk, Poland)
opportunities
- Man Utd: 3/1
- Tottenham: 11/2
- CF Villarreal: 15/2
- Ajax: 17/2
- AS Roma: 10/1
- Arsenal: 11/1
- Leicester: 12/1
- AC Milan: 12/1
- Bayer Levekusen: January 14th
- Granada: 22/1
- Rangers: 25/1
- Naples: 25/1
- Shakhtar Donetsk: 25/1
- Club Bruges: 33/1
- Hoffenheim: 40/1
- Benfica: 40/1
- Olympiacos: 40/1
- Small: 100/1
- Dinamo Zagreb: 100/1
- Slavia Prague: 100/1
- Boys: 100/1
- Red Bull Salzburg: 150/1
- PSV Eindhoven: 200/1
- Dynamo Kiev: 200/1
- Red star: 500/1
- FC Krasnodar: 500/1
