Europa League Potential: 16 Clubs that Could Join LFC Explained
Liverpool fans are eagerly anticipating the return of the Europa League, as their team has already secured a spot in the last 16 after topping Group E. The Reds had an impressive run in the group stage, winning four out of six matches. However, they will not be in action until March, as they await the eight clubs that will join them in the next round.
Joining Liverpool in the last 16 are West Ham, Brighton, Rangers, Atalanta, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, Bayer Leverkusen led by Xabi Alonso. These teams have also secured a spot in the next round of the competition and are ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
For the eight teams that finished second in their respective groups, there is still work to be done. They must face off against the third-place finishers from the Champions League groups in a two-legged playoff. These matches will determine who advances to the last 16 of the Europa League.
On Thursday night, the first leg of these playoffs will take place. Feyenoord will take on Roma, AC Milan will face Rennes, Lens will go head-to-head with Freiburg, Young Boys will play Sporting CP, Benfica will meet Toulouse, SC Braga will challenge Qarabag, Galatasaray will clash with Sparta Prague, and Shakhtar Donetsk will battle Marseille. The second legs of these matchups will take place on February 22.
The draw for the Europa League last 16 will be held on Friday, February 23 at 11 am (UK time). Liverpool, as group winners, will be seeded for the draw. This means that they will face one of the eight clubs that make it through the knockout playoffs. Fortunately for Liverpool, this means they avoid a potential match against Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen at this stage. However, they could still face a tough challenge from Sporting CP, led by Ruben Amorim.
Among the teams that finished third in their Champions League groups, Shakhtar Donetsk accumulated the most points with nine. Unfortunately, this was not enough to surpass Barcelona and Porto in Group H. Lens and Milan both accumulated eight points but were eliminated by Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven (Group B) and Dortmund and PSG (Group F) respectively.
The Europa League last 16 matches will commence on March 7 and conclude on March 14. Liverpool can rest easy knowing that they will play their second leg at Anfield, providing them with a home advantage in the crucial stage of the competition.
As Liverpool awaits their opponents in the last 16, fans can only speculate about the possible matchups and the excitement that lies ahead. With their current form and the potential challenges that await them, the Europa League promises to be an exhilarating journey for Liverpool and their dedicated supporters.