Europa Conference League draw LIVE: Aston Villa to face Ajax after learning last 16 fate
Ajax #Ajax
The Europa Conference League has reached the last 16 stage (AFP via Getty Images)
The Europa Conference League last 16 draw took place this afternoon with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa flying the flag as the lone British team in the competition.
Villa who qualified as one of the group winners alongside the likes of Club Brugge and Fiorentina where pulled out of the pot against Dutch side Ajax.
It is one of the more juicier ties for the next stage of the competition with Union Saint-Gilloise vs PAOK another potential eye opener.
Emery, who has plenty of success in European competition under his belt, will know that Villa have drawn one of the more dangerous teams but, combined with their impressive form in the Premier League this season, he will be confident about reaching the quarter-finals.
Relive the last 16 draw and reaction as Aston Villa seek to continue their European journey:
Europa Conference League last 16 draw
Aston Villa drawn against Ajax in Europa Conference League last-16 drawn
Villa are only British club left in the competition
Last 16 ties take place on 7 and 14 March
Liverpool draw Sparta Prague as Brighton and Aston Villa land glamour European ties
12:55 , Mike Jones
Premier League leaders Liverpool will face Sparta Prague in the last 16 of the Europa League, while Brighton face another glamour tie against Roma.
The Reds will travel to the Czech capital for the first leg on March 7, before a return at Anfield a week later in a competition Liverpool have won three times in the past.
Brighton’s maiden European campaign takes them to the Italian capital after they topped Group B containing Marseille, Ajax and AEK Athens.
Europa Conference League holders West Ham face German team Freiburg, while Rangers are up against two-time European champions Benfica from Portugal.
Liverpool draw Sparta Prague as Brighton and Aston Villa land glamour European ties
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:26 , Mike Jones
The last 16 fixtures will take place over consecutive weeks with the first legs being played on March 7th and the second legs following on March 14th.
Unai Emery, a serial Europa League winner with Sevilla, has his work cut out for him at Aston Villa as they’ve drawn Dutch side Ajax. That’s one of the more difficult tests to get through.
Europa Conference League draw in full
12:20 , Mike Jones
Servette FC vs Viktoria Plzen
Ajax vs Aston Villa
Molde vs Club Brugge
Union Saint-Gilloise vs PAOK
Sturm Graz vs Lille
Maccabi Haifa vs Fiorentina
Olympiacos vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:19 , Mike Jones
Finally, Olympiacos will be taking on Maccabi Tel-Aviv!
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:18 , Mike Jones
When Maccabi Haifa are drawn out of the pot they are automatically drawn against Fiorentina.
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:17 , Mike Jones
Three more ties to make in this draw, next out of the pot is Austria’s Sturm Graz…
… they are playing Lille!
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:16 , Mike Jones
Dinamo Zagreb can face any of the remaining teams…
… and are drawn against PAOK!
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:16 , Mike Jones
The last fixture in the first half of the draw sees Union Saint-Gilloise…
… taking on Fenerbache!
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:14 , Mike Jones
Molde are the third team to be drawn out…
… and will take on Club Brugge!
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:13 , Mike Jones
Next out of the pot is Ajax from the Dutch league and one of the most decorated European clubs…
… they are facing Aston Villa!
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:12 , Mike Jones
Servette are the first team drawn out of the pot…
… they’ll be playing Viktoria Plzen.
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:10 , Mike Jones
Here’s a reminder of the 16 teams in the draw:
Seeded teams:
Aston Villa (ENG)
Club Brugge (BEL)
Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Fiorentina (ITA)
LOSC Lille (FRA)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)
PAOK (GRE)
Viktoria PlzeÅ (CZE)
Unseeded teams:
Ajax (NED)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Maccabi Haifa (ISR)
Molde (NOR)
Olympiacos (GRE)
Servette (SUI)
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Union SG (BEL)
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:08 , Mike Jones
Greek football legend and Euro 2004 winner Kostas Katsouranis will be drawing the balls out of the pots for this draw. He says that his only hope for the competition is that a Greek team reaches the final which will be played in Athens.
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:05 , Mike Jones
Giorgio Marchetti is back on the stage for this draw and once again recaps the previous rounds before congratulating the teams that progressed through the play off rounds.
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
12:03 , Mike Jones
And we’re back in Nyon.
This time for the Europa Conference League draw. The British interest here lies with Aston Villa but who will they be playing in the last-16?
We’re about to find out.
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
11:54 , Mike Jones
Viktoria Plzen defender Robin Hranac on the draw: “We will watch the draw together in the changing room and predict our opponent.
“I don’t have any preferences, we will put up a good fight no matter who we get.”
Europa Conference League draw LIVE
11:48 , Mike Jones
Martrin Baturina, Dinamo Zagreb midfielder said:“We already faced the most difficult opponent and we defeated them [Betis]. That’s why I don’t have any preferences for the draw.
“Whoever we get, we can play against them.”
Liverpool confirm key trio ruled out of potential Premier League title decider
11:43 , Mike Jones
Liverpool have confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Curtis Jones will be out until after next month’s international break and will therefore miss the potential Premier League title decider against Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp’s side host the champions at Anfield on 10 March but the key trio are set to be absent for the crucial fixture, as well as being unavailable against Chelsea in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Liverpool confirm key trio ruled out of potential Premier League title decider
Europa League draw LIVE
11:36 , Mike Jones
The British teams will all be content with their opponents.
Rangers have undoubtably the most difficult tie against Benfica but the Portguese club bring weight and history to the fixture meaning a decent away trip for the fans and with the Scottish team top of the league at present they’ll take some confidence in the matches.
West Ham are well versed with SC Freiburg having beaten them twice in the Europa League group stages and they should prove no match for David Moyes’ side if he can get them back into form.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will be strong opponents for any of the teams left in the competition but a fixture against Sparta Prague could be the ideal scenario for Jurgen Klopp to rest a few players and allow his injury list to shorten.
Finally, Brighton face Roma. Tough test but much like Rangers they’ll be taking on a team with European pedigree and should they get through the tie then it’ll buoy them on to better things in the quarter-finals.
Europa League Conference draw LIVE
11:30 , Mike Jones
As we wait for some reaction to the Europa League last 16 draw, here’s what’s still to come this afternoon.
The Europa Conference League round of 16 draw takes place at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday 23 February. The draw is set to commence at 12pm GMT.
It is a very similar draw to the previous one with seeded and unseeded teams drawn against each other. Aston Villa are the only British team in the competition.
The draw features 16 teams. The eight group stage winners from the Conference League group stage are seeded, and will face the knockout round play-off winners.
No side can face another team from the same national association.
Ties take place over two legs, with group winners at home in the second legs. Ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time irrespective of the number of goals each team has scored at home and away.
If the teams still cannot be separated after the additional 30 minutes, the tie goes to a penalty shoot-out.
Europa League draw LIVE
11:24 , Mike Jones
The round of 16 fixtures will take place on 7th and 14th March with the seeded teams playing the second legs at home where possible.
The fixture list will be finalised by 5pm GMT this evening.
Europa League full draw
11:22 , Mike Jones
AC Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
Marseille vs Villarreal
Roma vs Brighton
Benfica vs Rangers
Freiburg vs West Ham
Sporting CF vs Atalanta
AC Milan vs Slavia Prague
Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen
Europa League draw LIVE
11:20 , Mike Jones
Finally, Qarabag FK are the last team out of the pot…
… they are playing Bayer Leverkusen!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:20 , Mike Jones
Coming quickly to the conclusion of the draw and AC Milan…
… are going to be facing Slavia Prague!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:19 , Mike Jones
Sporting are the next team drawn out…
… they’re taking on Atalanta!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:18 , Mike Jones
Now for the second half of the draw and Freiburg are the first team out of the pot…
… they are facing West Ham United!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:17 , Mike Jones
At the halfway stage of the draw we have Benfica coming out of the pot…
… to take on Rangers!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:15 , Mike Jones
The third round of 16 tie sees Roma drawn out against…
… Brighton!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:14 , Mike Jones
John O’Shea pulls Marseille out of the pot next up…
… the French club will be taking on Villarreal!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:13 , Mike Jones
The first team to come out of the pot is Sparta Prague as one of the play-off winners…
… they are facing Liverpool!
Europa League draw LIVE
11:10 , Mike Jones
The procedure of the draw – seeded teams face unseeded teams etc – is now explained just so that everyone knows how things work and which teams can be drawn against which.
No team from the same domestice league can face each other at this stage.
Europa League draw LIVE
11:07 , Mike Jones
Giorgio Marchetti is brought onto the stage to talk about next season’s Europa League expansion before explaining the rules for the draw with a bit of flair and style.
He also congratulates Qarabag for becoming the first team from Azerbaijan to reach the knockout stage of this competition.
John O’Shea is then introduced to help out with the draw.
Europa League draw LIVE
11:05 , Mike Jones
Here’s a reminder of the teams in the draw:
Seeded teams
Atalanta (ITA)
Brighton (ENG)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Liverpool (ENG)
Rangers (SCO)
Slavia Prague (CZE)
Villarreal (ESP)
West Ham (ENG)
Unseeded teams
AC Milan (ITA)
Benfica (POR)
Freiburg (GER)
Marseille (FRA)
QarabaÄ (AZE)
Roma (ITA)
Sparta Prague (CZE)
Sporting CP (POR)
Europa League draw LIVE
11:01 , Mike Jones
Here we go.
The draw for the Europa League last-16 is just getting started. As always there’s a recap of the group stages and the play-off round with the teams who have progressed being announced.
Fifa and Uefa face unfixable problem over multi-club ownership
10:57 , Mike Jones
Uefa and Fifa are in a stand-off over regulation on multi-club ownership, as the two biggest confederations struggle to find a solution for one of the biggest issues facing football today.
The European body are pushing for Fifa to come up with rules before next year’s inaugural Club World Cup in the USA, especially with the possibility that it could feature clubs from multiple groups. Manchester City and Chelsea are both certain to be involved, as two examples, and the former are part of one of the biggest such groups in the world as City Football Group while the London club’s owners investigating the possibility of expanding beyond the recent purchase of Strasbourg.
Fifa are at the same pushing Uefa to clarify its own rules, that have so far led to situations like Leipzig and Salzburg – both from the Red Bull group – meeting in the Europa League. That is despite the rules notionally supposed to keep such teams apart to prevent conflict of interest. The two clubs were able to prove sufficient separation, which has left a consistent question over whether the regulations are fit for purpose.
Fifa and Uefa face unfixable problem over multi-club ownership
Klopp compares Liverpool comeback to Liverpool’s famous Barcelona win
10:49 , Mike Jones
Jurgen Klopp broke his promise.
A few months ago, he had vowed to stop talking about his greatest comeback, his greatest night. There can be a temptation to mention the most famous of his 472 games in charge of Liverpool, in part because it combined so many of the elements that have defined his reign.
But after another four-goal comeback, against Luton this time, he reached for the ultimate in his search for something reminiscent.
“I promised my team a few months ago that I would never mention the Barcelona game as an example and I used it again today so I broke my promise,” he said.
“Just because this game was, before the game, kind of similar. This is now their Barcelona, it was against Luton.
“Difficult situation, plenty of reasons to give up in moments but not tonight and I saw only a super group fighting. If you don’t limit yourself with bad thoughts you can fly, that’s what the boys did.”
Europa League draw LIVE
10:42 , Mike Jones
Sparta Prague forward, Jan Kuchta said: “I don’t have any preferences for the draw, but I’m certain that we will now play with courage against other big clubs as we did against Galatasaray.”
Mohamed Salah injury update as Liverpool made to wait ahead of Carabao Cup final
10:35 , Mike Jones
Mohamed Salah faces a late fitness test ahead of the Carabao Cup final with the Liverpool forward yet to have been ruled out of the Wembley clash against Chelsea.
Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai will also be assessed ahead of Sunday’s showpiece.
“Dom, Darwin and Mo we have to really see,” Liverpool’s assistant manager Pep Lijnders said. “We have two more days, so at the last minute we will check if they can be there.”
Mohamed Salah injury update as Liverpool made to wait ahead of Carabao Cup final
Europa Conference League draw
10:28 , Mike Jones
Knockout round play-off winners and unseeded teams:
Ajax (NED)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Maccabi Haifa (ISR)
Molde (NOR)
Olympiacos (GRE)
Servette (SUI)
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Union SG (BEL)
Europa Conference League draw
10:21 , Mike Jones
Group winners and seeded teams:
Aston Villa (ENG)
Club Brugge (BEL)
Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Fiorentina (ITA)
LOSC Lille (FRA)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)
PAOK (GRE)
Viktoria PlzeÅ (CZE)
How does the Europa Conference League draw work?
10:14 , Mike Jones
The ECL last 16 draw takes place in exactly the same way as the Europa League one.
The draw features 16 teams. The eight group stage winners from the Conference League group stage are seeded, and will face the knockout round play-off winners.
No side can face another team from the same national association.
Ties take place over two legs, with group winners at home in the second legs. Ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time irrespective of the number of goals each team has scored at home and away.
If the teams still cannot be separated after the additional 30 minutes, the tie goes to a penalty shoot-out.
Amid Liverpool injury concerns, one thing is keeping trophy hopes alive
10:07 , Mike Jones
At the start of this season, Liverpool’s back-up stopper still had more years to his name than senior appearances for the club. While that’s not too much of an issue for youngsters making their way in the game, Caoimhin Kelleher isn’t really a youth candidate any longer: even in goalkeeper terms, 25 years old is pushing towards mid-career territory and with Alisson Becker ahead of him at Anfield, regular minutes have always been hard to come by.
But this season has been slightly different. A start at Brentford on short notice, after the Brazilian suffered an apparent hamstring injury on the eve of the game, brought Kelleher up to 14 appearances for the campaign, 35 for the club overall.
It’s easily his best season in terms of game time, but also for consistency of performances, with Jurgen Klopp describing his showing in the 4-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium as “exceptional”.
Amid Liverpool injury concerns, one thing is keeping trophy hopes alive
Europa League draw LIVE
10:00 , Mike Jones
The balls are being prepared in Nyon. An hour to go until the last 16 draw takes place and Liverpool, West Ham and more discover who they’re facing in the next round.
Liverpool, Leverkusen and Brighton stand out says Zalewski
09:52 , Mike Jones
Ahead of this morning’s Europa League draw Roma midfielder Nicola Zalewski spoke about who he feels are the favourites to win the trophy.
“At this stage in the competition, I think every team is strong,” he said, “Liverpool, Leverkusen and Brighton definitely stand out by name and by their style of play, but I’m 100 percent convinced that if we draw one of these three, they will show us respect.”
Europa Conference League draw
09:46 , Mike Jones
Following the conclusion of the Europa League last 16 draw will be the draw for Europe’s third competition the Europa Conference League.
It is a very similar draw to the previous one with seeded and unseeded teams drawn against each other. This draw starts at 12pm GMT and features Aston Villa as the only British team in the competition.
Moyes defiant as fan pressure mounts on West Ham boss
09:40 , Mike Jones
David Moyes is coming under pressure from West Ham fans who would like to see more exciting football from the team amid a run of poor results.
The manager was staunch in his own defence and reminded fans of what he has achieved at the London Stadium including the fact the Hammers won the European Conference League last season.
“I am pretty long in the tooth, you can never please everybody, it would be hard to say there have been many better times at West Ham,” he said.
“Maybe they want something different, but they would honestly have to say it has been the best times they have had at the club with regards winning a European trophy, the league positions.
“Maybe there would be managers who excite them more, possibly, but the one who is sitting here wins more.
“My response would be to say we are hurting really badly as a team and a manager because we have not had good results for five or six weeks now but this year already we have beaten Tottenham, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, we must not forget there were good times not so long ago.
“We have not been playing well, but there are some mitigating circumstances since January 1, with boys going to the African Cup of Nations, Jarrod Bowen came back from England with an injury and has not been the same since, we have been without Lucas Paqueta as well for most of the time so there are things that have affected us.
“I have seen other teams have similar, Newcastle, Man Utd, Man City before the World Championship, Arsenal over Christmas.
“There is no divine right that West Ham don’t have a dicky period at some point in the season. We are hoping we can get back on it.”
How does the Europa League draw work?
09:30 , Mike Jones
The draw will feature 16 teams, the eight group winners as well as the eight teams that came through the playoffs. No side can face another team from the same national association, but an English side could draw Rangers.
Ties take place over two legs, with the first legs set for March 7 and the second legs a week later on March 14. With no away goals advantage, matches level after 180 minutes will go to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
How to watch the Europa League draw?
09:20 , Mike Jones
The draw will be live-streamed via the Uefa Europa League website. Viewers can also watch it on TNT Sports 2 as well as via the Discovery+ app.
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When is the draw?
09:12 , Mike Jones
The Europa League round of 16 draw takes place at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday 23 February. The draw is set to commence at 11am GMT.
Europa League last 16 draw: What can the British teams play?
09:03 , Jack Rathborn
With Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Rangers all seeded for the draw, their options are as follows:
AC Milan (ITA)
Benfica (POR)
Freiburg (GER)
Marseille (FRA)
QarabaÄ (AZE)
Roma (ITA)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Sporting CP (POR)
Europa League last 16 draw: Who are the seeded and unseeded teams?
08:59 , Jack Rathborn
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)
QarabaÄ (AZE)
Roma (ITA)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Sporting CP (POR)
Jurgen Klopp compares Liverpool’s ‘thunderstorm’ win over Luton with famous comeback against Barcelona
08:47 , Jack Rathborn
Jurgen Klopp broke his promise. A few months ago, he had vowed to stop talking about his greatest comeback, his greatest night. There can be a temptation to mention the most famous of his 472 games in charge of Liverpool, in part because it combined so many of the elements that have defined his reign. But after another four-goal comeback, he reached for the ultimate in his search for something reminiscent.
“I promised my team a few months ago that I would never mention the Barcelona game as an example and I used it again today so I broke my promise,” he said. “Just because this game was, before the game, kind of similar.”
It is not often Luton Town find themselves bracketed with Barcelona. It was the shared sense of adversity that prompted Klopp to make the comparison. He likes the idea of limitless possibilities, of making the improbable possible and then actual. Liverpool were underdogs against Barcelona and they definitely were not against Luton, they trailed by three goals to Lionel Messi and co and just one to Carlton Morris and his colleagues, but these were Liverpool sides with a difference, both depleted by injury.
Klopp compares Liverpool’s ‘thunderstorm’ win over Luton with Barcelona comeback
Xabi Alonso has ‘nothing new to say’ about Liverpool and Bayern Munich links
08:40 , Jack Rathborn
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has insisted there is “nothing new to say” regarding fresh speculation over his future.
Alonso has been heavily linked with the Liverpool job since Jurgen Klopp announced last month he would step down at the end of the campaign, but the Premier League club now face competition from Bayern Munich.
It was revealed on Wednesday that current Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel will leave his position at the conclusion of the season – increasing the scrutiny on Alonso.
Xabi Alonso has ‘nothing new to say’ about Liverpool and Bayern Munich links
What time is the Europa League last 16 draw?
08:33 , Jack Rathborn
Europa League sides are set to find out their last-16 opponents when the draw takes place on Friday.
There will be plenty of Premier League interest, with Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton all safely through to the round of 16 after finishing top of their respective groups.
The English trio, alongside the other five group winners, are joined in the draw by the eight other teams who made it through the play-off round.
The play-off second legs concluded on Thursday and saw those who finished second in their Europa League group face a side who finished third in their respective Champions League group.
What time is the Europa League last 16 draw?