Europa League games

Juventus had finished third in Champions League Group H edging out minnows Maccabi Haifa on goal difference, and went up against Nantes who had ended up second ...

It would be foolish to underestimate the side that finished ahead of another surprise team Union Berlin. Feyenoord currently lead the Eredivisie three points ahead of Ajax Amsterdam, and last lost a game in late October. They had won Group B ahead of Rennes. They have been hammered 5-0 by Bayern however, and third-placed Union Berlin also spanked them 5-1 though they played a man down. Freiburg sit in fourth place, three points off Sociedad are third in La Liga, won Group E ahead of Manchester United, and recently held The Gunners are in fine form this season and despite their recent hiccups, remain two points clear of No two teams from the same country can be drawn against each other. - Freiburg (Germany) - Real Sociedad (Spain) [Arsenal](https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com)(England) - Real Betis (Spain)

The Europa League last-16 draw takes place today, just hours after teams including Manchester United and Juventus booked their place in the next round.

La Liga’s Real Sociedad could also pose a stern test, having topped United’s group earlier in the Europa League campaign. Of the clubs standing in their way, Premier League leaders Arsenal look the most threatening. Monaco had won the first leg in Germany 3-2. Bayer Leverkusen are another team our writer Thom Harris fancies to do well in this season’s Europa League. I think this is another step because when you can beat Barcelona — one of the best teams in this moment in Europe — your belief can be really strong because then I think you are able to beat anyone.” If we do the right things, if we follow the rules, if we follow principles and show discipline and team spirit, I think this team can achieve a lot. “It was a magnificent night,” the Dutchman said. Now we need to concentrate on the league and cup.” It is a shame because we had an excellent first half. We were without Gavi and Pedro and in the second half that is where you saw the difference. A well-taken touch and right-footed (shinned) goal from the Brazilian got things rolling and all of a sudden he had the confidence and clarity to pressure De Jong at the right moments. The draw is seeded, with the eight group stage winners kept apart.

West Ham will also find out who they face in the Europa Conference League knockout rounds.

[Manchester United](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/manchester-united) have been drawn to face Real Betis in the last 16 of the Europa League. [West Ham](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/west-ham-united) are involved in that one after finishing top of their group and despite struggles in the Premier League this year the Hammers have been solid competitors in Europe. [ Europa League](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/europa-league) last-16 takes place this morning as the group stage winners are paired against the play-off winners in the knockout rounds. [Manchester United](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/manchester-united) are also through after defeating Barcelona in the two-legged play-off. [Arsenal learn Europa League last-16 opponents](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-europa-league-fixtures-opponents-draw-b2288819.html) Sivasspor (TUR) [Arsenal](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/arsenal) were among the eight clubs to top their respective Europa League group so are seeded for the draw which takes place at 11am. Basel (SUI) Fiorentina (ITA) Gent (BEL) Lazio (ITA) Anderlecht (BEL)

Manchester United will face more Spanish opposition in the form of Real Betis in the Europa League last-16, while Arsenal have been paired with Sporting ...

[Manchester United](/sport/teampages/manchester-united.html) will face more Spanish opposition in the form of Real Betis in the Europa League last-16, while [Arsenal](/sport/teampages/arsenal.html) have been paired with Sporting Lisbon. The Gunners won 1-0 in Portugal thanks to a Danny Welbeck goal but were held goalless at the Emirates Stadium. Manchester United will play Real Betis in the last-16 of the Europa League - while Arsenal take on Sporting Lisbon after the draw was made on Friday while Arsenal avoid Juventus but do get Champions League drop outs Sporting Lisbon The first leg matches will be played on Thursday March 9, with the return games a week later on March 16. - Manchester United will face more Spanish opposition in the form of Real Betis

We have drawn the Portuguese side in the last-16 of the Europa League after the draw was made in Switzerland this morning.

“We have a young team but we have a lot of leaders,” he continued. We have to focus and never give up because the Premier League is hard.” I wasn’t there [for the past three seasons] but I heard it has changed a lot, and this season is something else. “It is never easy to play away. I couldn’t leave this amazing club without playing so I always had it in my head to come back and play. It was a good experience for me, and I came back better.

As the Champions League winds its way towards the last eight, the Europa League hurtles forward at breackneck speed with the group winners from last autumn ...

Sporting may not be able to overcome a Gabriel Jesus and Saka-led Arsenal but if the Gunners are not at the peak of their powers we know this team can give them all sorts of difficulties. There is talent in the Ukrainian defense, most notably Antoliy Trubin and Mykola Matviyenko, but they will do well to quell a Feyenoord side who have streaked to the top of the Eredivisie with an everyone eats attack in which nine players average between two and 4.5 shots per 90 minutes. With the Premier League title looking like a long shot, it would not be a surprise to see Erik ten Hag give his best XI an awful lot of minutes in this competition. That has started to improve of late and might just be enough to get them through this tie. He may not be the force he was before the injury but then that player was perhaps the most devastating creative force in the Bundesliga at 18 years of age. If he does so, even a good Real Betis side may not be able to stop this team all that much, particularly if Jadon Sancho can take further strides after an encouraging revival of form. It would therefore be extremely appropriate if this midtable La Liga side turned it on to overcome Fenerbahce's freescoring tandem of Enner Valencia and Michy Batshuayi, but a second leg in Istanbul might be the swing factor Jorge Jesus' side need. After the initial shock that came with matters off the field, Massimiliano Allegri's side are rounding back into the form that took them to second place in Serie A before the FIGC's intervention with a 15 point deduction. That comes with its risks: Rob Holding and an untested Jakub Kiwior can't offer the same ball progression platform as Gabriel and William Saliba, while any player who comes in for Bukayo Saka would struggle to match his output, not least Reiss Nelson. Christian Streich's side are fourth in the Bundesliga at the time of writing and can surely expect an even better performance from top scorer Vincenzo Grifo when he returns to his homeland. After all we already have plenty of data to go on with these two, who met in the group stages, where both sides won their road game 1-0. No great assessments on where these clubs are in the continental firmament, we're hitting these games hard and fast, like a Grzegorz Krychowiak tackle (other Europa League icons are available).