Ultimate Guide to the UEFA Europa League Round of 16: Draw, Teams, and Fixtures

Europa League Round of 16 Draw: Key Details The UEFA Europa League Round of 16 draw is set to take place on February 21, with teams eagerly awaiting their opponents. The draw will be held at 7 a.m. ET / midday GMT, marking the beginning of the knockout stage.

Participating Teams The top eight teams from the league phase have already secured their spots in the Round of 16:

Athletic Club
Eintracht Frankfurt
Lazio
Lyon
Manchester United
Olympiacos
Rangers
Tottenham Hotspur

These teams will be joined by the winners of the knockout playoff round ties, which feature clubs placed ninth to 24th.

How the Draw Works The draw process is unique this season, with teams being placed into a pre-determined bracket based on their league phase standings. For example:

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur can only face Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar, or FC Midtjylland in the Round of 16.

The draw will place teams into specific positions, creating the matchups and the overall bracket leading to the final.

Possible Round of 16 Matchups Here are some potential ties based on the current standings:

Lazio or Athletic Club vs. Ferencvaros or AS Roma
Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur vs. AZ Alkmaar or Galatasaray
Eintracht Frankfurt or Lyon vs. Union St.-Gilloise or Ajax Amsterdam

Fixture Dates The Round of 16 matches will be played over two legs:

First legs: March 6
Second legs: March 13

Looking Ahead The quarterfinals and semifinals will follow in April and May, with the final set for May 21 at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.

Key Points to Remember

No country protection: Teams from the same nation can face each other.
January signings are eligible, but clubs are limited to three changes to their squad.

Stay tuned as the Europa League Round of 16 promises thrilling football action!