- The Europa League play-off draw determined the eight matchups that will decide the remaining spots in the Round of 16, featuring teams that finished between 9th and 24th place in the league phase
- Porto vs. Roma is the headline fixture, as both teams were considered title contenders but failed to impress in the earlier stage of the tournament
- The top eight teams, including Manchester United, Tottenham, and Lazio, have already secured direct qualification and will not participate in this round
Key Takeaways:
The Europa League play-off draw took place in Nyon, determining the matchups that will decide the second half of the Round of 16 participants. The knockout rounds will begin with this stage, featuring teams that finished between 9th and 24th place in the league phase. The top eight clubs—Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, and Rangers—have already secured their spots in the last 16 and will not participate in the play-offs.
🚨 OFFICIAL: The Europa League draw in full..
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The 16 teams that must go through the play-offs were drawn into eight matchups, with the winners advancing to the next round. The most intriguing clash from the draw sees Porto face Roma, as both sides were initially seen as strong contenders but struggled in the earlier stage of the tournament. Another high-profile matchup features José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe, who will face Anderlecht. Greek side PAOK was paired with FCSB, setting up a Balkan showdown.
Real Sociedad will take on Midtjylland, while Galatasaray will meet AZ Alkmaar. Dutch giants Ajax were drawn against Union SG, and another Eredivisie representative, Twente, will take on Bodø/Glimt. The final tie of the play-offs will see Ferencváros battle Viktoria Plzeň for a place in the Round of 16.