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Former Europa League winners Porto were drawn on Friday to face Claudio Ranieri’s Roma in the standout tie of the Europa League knockout phase play-offs. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur discovered their potential opponents for the last 16.
Porto, who triumphed in the Europa League in 2011 and lifted the UEFA Cup in 2003, will host Roma in the first leg on February 13, with the return leg in Italy scheduled for February 20. This matchup promises to be a highly competitive one, as both clubs aim for progression.
Other notable play-off round ties include José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe taking on Anderlecht and Ajax facing their Belgian neighbours Union Saint-Gilloise. The eight winners from this round will advance to the last 16, where they will join the top eight teams from the league phase.
Lazio topped the group stage, narrowly edging out Athletic Bilbao, while Manchester United and Tottenham finished third and fourth in their respective groups. The Premier League sides now know they will face the winners of the play-off tie between AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray or that between Midtjylland of Denmark and Real Sociedad.
Spurs have already faced both AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray in the group stage, defeating the Dutch side 1-0 at home and losing 3-2 to Galatasaray in Istanbul. United, who played Galatasaray in the Champions League last season, took just one point from six in their encounters. They also have recent experience with Real Sociedad, having faced them in both the Champions League and Europa League in previous seasons.
Rangers, who finished as runners-up in the 2022 Europa League, barely squeezed into eighth place in the group stage. They could face FC Twente, Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, Fenerbahce, or Anderlecht in the last 16.
The draw for the last 16 will be held on February 21, with the ties scheduled for the first half of March. The final of this season’s Europa League will take place in Bilbao on May 21.
