All you need to know of Europa League Round 16 draw including fixtures, teams, dates
The Europa League Round of 16 draw took place on Friday (Feb 23) at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland where all teams learned their fate. While sight teams had already qualified for the R16 of the Europa League, eight more teams joined Friday’s draw after advancing through the playoff round. Defending champions Sevilla were not part of the draw while last season’s runners-up AC Roma made the cut after winning the playoff round against Feyenoord.
How did the Europa League Round of 16 draw work?
After Thursday evening’s playoff round, all eight winners were given unseeded status which will see them play the first leg of the R16 at home while eight group winners were given seeded status and will play the second leg at home. The format for the draw saw seeded teams drawn against unseeded teams with no clubs from the same association (same country) being drawn against one another at this stage of the competition.
Which were the seeded and unseeded teams in UEFA Europa League draw?
Seeded Teams
Atalanta (ITA), Brighton (ENG), Leverkusen (GER), Liverpool (ENG), Rangers (SCO), Slavia Praha (CZE), Villarreal (ESP), West Ham (ENG)
Unseeded Teams
AC Milan (ITA), Benfica (POR), Freiburg (GER), Marseille (FRA), Qarabağ (AZE), Roma (ITA), Sparta Praha (CZE), Sporting CP (POR)
Also Read: Europa League Draw- Liverpool to face Sparta Prague in round of 16, AC Milan vs Slavia Praha
Which countries have been represented in the Europa League Round of16?
All three English sides – Brighton, Liverpool and West Ham United won their groups and were seeded and remain in contention for the title. Italy is represented by three sides – AC Milan, Atalanta and Roma while the Czech Republic, Portugal and Germany are represented by two teams each. Spain, France, Scotland and Azerbaijan have one representation each in the R16.
Europa League Draw
Sparta Praha vs Liverpool
Marseille vs Villarreal
Roma vs Brighton
Benfica vs Rangers
Freiburg vs West Ham
Sporting CP vs Atalanta
AC Milan vs Slavia Praha
Qarabağ vs Leverkusen
When will the Europa League Round of 16 take place?
The Europa League R16 matches will take place over two legs with teams winning on aggregate scoreline of both legs will advance to the quarterfinal. In case of a tied aggregate score after the second leg, there will be a provision of 30 minutes extra time and if needed penalty shootout, in case the tie is not settled. There will be no away goals rule in the Europe League this season.
The first legs are scheduled for 7 March, with the second legs a week later on 14 March.
However, due to a city clash with Benfica, the first leg of Sporting CP vs Atlanta will take place on Tuesday 5 March.
Also Read: Benfica starlet Joao Neves takes field in Europa League days after mother’s death
