Atlético Madrid, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao all face tough Europa League ties
All three Spanish sides left in the last 32 of the Europa League have been given stiff tasks if they are to progress in the competition after Friday’s draw in Nyon.
Atlético Madrid have been paired with Italian giants Lazio in what should be one of the ties of the round, while Valencia will lock horns with Stoke City. Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao have possibly been handed an easier undertaking, having drawn Lokomotiv Moscow, but they will have to contend with extreme temperatures in Russia in what could prove to be a difficult test.
Gregorio Manzano’s men face a Lazio side just two points off the top of Serie A with players of the quality of Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cissé in their ranks, and Valencia boss Unai Emery knows his team will need to be at their best to overcome Tony Pulis’ Stoke team. The Potters are currently eighth in the Premier League and Los Ché may have to contend with a style of football they do not usually come across in La Liga.
With the last 16 also having been drawn, Atlético know they will be up against the winners of Braga and Besiktas should they prevail, with Valencia matched with the Turks of Trabzonspor or PSV Eindhoven. However, it is Athletic Bilbao who face a potentially mouth-watering tie in the following round; the Basques will face either Ajax or Manchester United if they can overcome Lokomotiv Moscow.
Round of 32 draw
1 Porto (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
2 Ajax (NED) v Manchester United (ENG)
3 Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) v Athletic Club (ESP)
4 Salzburg (AUT) v Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)
5 Stoke City (ENG) v Valencia (ESP)
6 Rubin Kazan (RUS) v Olympiacos (GRE)
7 AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Anderlecht (BEL)
8 Lazio (ITA) v Atlético Madrid (ESP)
9 Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v Twente (NED)
10 Viktoria Plzen (CZE) v Schalke 04 (GER)
11 Wisla Kraków (POL) v Standard Liège (BEL)
12 Braga (POR) v Besiktas (TUR)
13 Udinese (ITA) v PAOK (GRE)
14 Trabzonspor (TUR) v PSV Eindhoven (NED)
15 Hannover 96 (GER) v Club Brugge (BEL)
16 Legia Warsaw (POL) v Sporting (POR)
Round of 16 draw
Salzburg/Metalist Kharkiv vs. Rubin Kazan/Olympiacos
Legia Warsaw/Sporting vs. Porto/Manchester City
Steaua Bucharest/Twente vs. Viktoria Plzen/Schalke
Wisla/Standard vs. Hannover/Club Brugge
Stoke/Valencia vs. Trabzonspor/PSV Eindhoven
AZ/Anderlecht vs. Udinese/PAOK
Lazio/Atlético Madrid v Braga/Besiktas
Ajax/Manchester United v Lokomotiv/Athletic
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